The pivot of power : Australian prime ministers and political leadership, 1949-2016 / Paul Strangio, Paul 't Hart & James Walter.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Strangio, Paul, author.

Hart, Paul 't, author.

Walter, James, 1949- author.

Series:

Miegunyah Press series ; 175.

Miegunyah Press series ; 175

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prime ministers--Australia--History.

Prime ministers.

Politicians--Australia--History.

Politicians.

Australia--Politics and government.

Australia.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vi, 376 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Carlton, Victoria : The Miegunyah Press, [2017]

Summary:

The prime ministership remains the main prize in Australian politics, but it is a precarious one. Leadership turnover in recent years has seen more prime ministers rise and fall than at any time since the decade after federation. What explains this volatility? The Pivot of Power is the second volume in a unique blend of collective biography and institutional history that shows the skills, limitations and passions of incumbents are only part of the story. The ways in which prime ministers thrive and fail are influenced by the resources at their command, the evolving nature of the parties they lead, the daunting public expectations they face under a relentless media gaze, and the challenges that history throws at them. Recent changes in these areas have had a destabilising effect and made the role of prime minister more onerous than ever. After decades of strong national leadership, the office has rarely seemed quite so confounding as it does for its contemporary holders. The Pivot of Power explains how this has come about. And its rich account of prime-ministerial fortune since the mid-twentieth century yields historical lessons for overcoming the current malaise.

Contents:

Intro

Title

Copyright

Contents

Prime Ministers of Australia: 1949-2016

Introduction

1. The Politics of Consolidation: Robert Menzies

2. The Burden of Succession: Harold Holt, John Gorton and William McMahon

3. Harnessed by History: Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser

4. Agents of Change: Bob Hawke and Paul Keating

5. Speaking for the Mainstream: John Howard

6. Harbingers of Decline? Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott

7. From Pre-eminence to Paradox: the Australian Prime Ministership, 1949-2016

Notes

Acknowledgements

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780522868753

0522868754

OCLC:

1097979489