In this edition we publish a collection of papers presented at the recent “New Politics – New Visions for Australia” seminar covened by Geoff Boucher, Matt … more
In Focus
The National Limits of Diversity
It is a truth (almost) universally acknowledged among progressives that cultural diversity demands we look beyond the nation-state. National communities, so the argument goes, can no longer provide a convincing basis for political membership. Perhaps they once did, when nation-states could be conceived of as homogeneous communities, where citizens’ political and cultural identities were one and the same. But how can nationality – with all of its cultural baggage – be a common source of … more
Social democracy is not enough
Twenty years ago a seminar entitled something like “New Directions for the Left” would have involved taking Marx and adding water. These days it is more like taking Rudd and adding spice. Either way, the Left usually doesn’t get it. Unless the Left – with social democracy as its major Australian manifestation – can see the ecological imperative (and not only climate change) as the single most important factor driving events in the 21st century, … more
When the music stops
The Environment and the Economy There are parallels between the Global Financial Crisis and the problem of dealing with climate change. There is now a broad consensus that the GFC was precipitated by the sub prime loans crisis which was a direct result of financial deregulation. In the US this led to the extension of financial leverage by the banks (lending more and more money on a smaller and smaller equity base) into predatory lending … more
A politics of climate change
Neo-liberalism was imposed on Australia as a top down, ideologically driven, re-engineering of every aspect of Australian society. In the wake of the present global financial crisis two things are important. First that economic rationalism, neo-liberalism, economic ‘reform’, has never enjoyed popular support[1]. Second that although the free-marketeers still hold all the levers, neo-liberalism has now lost its legitimacy. This presents an opportunity. A politics of climate change has the potential to bust the neo-liberal … more
Less comfortable for some…
The science is abundantly clear that the present economic trajectory of the human race taken as a whole is environmentally unsustainable. Climate change is the most pressing priority, but it is only one element of a broader pattern of steep environmental degradation. We sometimes speak of the risk of environmental ‘collapse’, but the multifaceted nature of the slide to ecological ruin is more redolent of a mounting chorus of whimpers than any decisive bang. A … more
Ideologies after the age of progress
Ideologies Through the Looking-Glass There is broad agreement and much scientific evidence that we are rapidly approaching absolute limits to the advancing material progress of industrial civilization. Ecological limits to growth and the imminent depletion of some resources (such as ‘peak oil’) have been well known for several decades. Anthropogenic climate change has become a prominent political issue. These problems are exacerbated by a rapidly expanding world population, which will rise from 6 billion to … more
What comes after neoliberalism? Reframing markets
As the world bounces back from the Great Recession more quickly and after less suffering than expected, progressives will need to adjust their strategies. The opportunities for a paradigm shift away from neo-liberalism are still there, but it will be a less dramatic rejection of the status quo than initially thought. As we come together to consider our options, it is my view that we could benefit from taking a leaf out of the neo-liberals’ … more
Thinking about a new progressive vision
I’d like to begin by recalling the words on the invitation to this seminar, in which we describe the aspirations of many people for a better society — and also the way Australian society falls short of these aspirations. Then we added the following: ‘…underlying these concerns is something else that is rarely discussed: it is the crisis of ideas and values which express alternatives. In spite of the current economic crisis, the rise of … more
Diversity – the Republican Perspective
The last twenty years have seen questions of unity and diversity in society posed in many contexts – from the right wing backlash against multiculturalism to some spectacular events such as riots in Paris. Questions of unity and diversity in society result from some big challenges to contemporary political communities: Globalisation The international integration of national economies into a world economic framework that is qualitatively different to previous trans-national markets … more