David McKnight, co-convenor of the New Politics Seminar, makes the case for a new social vision - one that addresses the dearth of alternatives to 'business as usual' neoliberalism. Social change requires political ideas embedded in an intellectual and moral framework; a vision of the future which is both principled and pragmatic and which resonates with the social and material forces already driving change in the real world.

Anne Manne makes a compelling case for putting an ethic of care – with its values of justice, fairness, interdependence, reciprocity, compassion and respect - at the very centre of a new progressive politics.

Lindy Edwards suggests that new understandings of the strengths and weaknesses of markets allow progressives to look at economic growth through a new lens - as the product of cooperation. Productive markets thrive on co-operative relationships, trust and ethical behaviour.

David Ritter argues that climate change and environmental degradation have no value-neutral solutions, and that each potential policy prescription is necessarily founded in some broader concept of the 'good society'.

David West takes a peep through the ‘sustainability looking glass’ to reveal a brave new world in which today’s conservatives have become the new radicals - wedded to unending and accelerating economic growth, the ceaseless transformation of our lives, capitalism’s ‘permanent revolution’. That might mean today’s progressives are the new “conservatives” – as conservation of the natural world must be the prime value, if we are to preserve any kind of social harmony and hold on to the gains of our intellectual and cultural traditions.

Michael Pusey wants climate change to drive a meaningful consensus for new politics, policies and programs. He urges us to ground the narrative in concrete, accessible, and arresting visual images; in real, living memories; in terms that emphasize the interconnections between the problems and also the solutions; and calls for coordinated systemic action.

Kenneth Davidson provides some reasons why we need a carbon tax: to make the polluters feel the cost of their polluting; to finance a massive increase in spending on green infrastructure; and fund a massive green “Marshall plan”, funneling aid to developing countries to help them find green ways to support the level of development necessary to reign in their population growth.

Drew Hutton proposes that leftists who care more about the loss of coal mining jobs than reducing carbon emissions can place themselves alongside the climate change denialists, the right-wing think tanks and the fossil fuel lobby as the enemies of sustainability.

Tim Soutphommasane contends that the expression of cultural diversity means very little if it is not understood as part of a broader social justice agenda that seeks to ensure all Australians, regardless of their background, receive a fair go. If we are to value diversity, let us value difference for the sake of integrating all Australians into a community of citizens defined by shared civic values and a historical tradition built around a common public culture.

Geoff Boucher examines problems of social cohesion in multicultural societies. He argues that just defending the liberal multicultural model is an inadequate response to the neoconservative (assimilationist) backlash. Instead he advocates building a cosmopolitan public culture fostered by intercultural dialogue, based on a progressive republican perspective.