Books

Closing the Gap in Education? Improving Outcomes in Southern World Societies
Southern Worlds - South Africa and Australia Compared
Melbourne – The Making of a Drinking and Eating Capital
Nations of Immigrants – Australia and The USA Compared
Laggards and Leaders in Labour Market Reform: Comparing Japan and Australia
Australia’s Immigration Revolution      
Australians in Britain: The twentieth-Century Experience     
Globalizing the Research Imagination     
Living Outside the Walls: The Chinese in Prato
Australians in Italy: Contemporary Lives and Impressions  
Mapping Social Cohesion – the Scanlon Foundation surveys  
Social Cohesion in Australia
Journal of International Migration and Integration, Volume 9, Number 2 Special Issue
Britain’s Global Australians: Sixteen Profiles
New Global Frontiers in Regulation: The Age of Nanotechnology
Counter-Terrorism and the Post-Democratic State
New Regionalism and Asylum Seekers: Challenges Ahead
Globalisation of Accounting Standards
Globalization in the Asian Region: Impacts and Consequences

Closing the Gap in Education? Improving Outcomes in Southern World Societies
Edited by Ilana Snyder and John Nieuwenhuysen
Monash University Publishing

The education of marginalised peoples and communities is a topic of great contemporary importance. Closing the Gap in Education? increases our understanding of the nature and challenges of marginalisation in southern world societies. The book also canvasses possible directions for change that might improve the social participation of young people. It is both timely and distinctive.

Closing the Gap in Education? emanates from a conference organised by the Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements, in partnership with Monash South Africa, held in 2009 at Monash’s Johannesburg campus. Leading scholars and public figures from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand participated.

The authors provide illuminating accounts of marginalisation which point to the inadequacy of many current educational policies. Several contributors question the usefulness of notions of closing gaps and bridging divides, suggesting alternate ways to framethe debates.

In explaining the key terms - marginalisation, gaps, divides, peripheries - the contributors consider history as a cultural resource, capabilities, social practices, neo-liberalism, human capital theory, raciology, redistribution, the education debt, the politics of hope, and others. They do so as academics and activists committed to social justice in education. The achievement of social transformation is particularly emphasised.

'Closing the Gap in Education? makes a most important contribution to understanding education in marginalised communities. It is a thought-provoking work, relevant to all readers interested in education, policy, government, global, media and indigenous studies. '

ISBNS:
978-0-9806512-2-5 (paperback)
978-0-9806512-3-2 (online)

www.publishing.monash.edu/cge

Southern Worlds - South Africa and Australia Compared
Edited by John Nieuwenhuysen and David Dunstan
Australian Scholarly Publishing

This collection of essays by distinguished South African and Australian authors explores the links and shared past of the two countries. These are many and varied. South Africa and Australia were once part of the super continent Gonwanaland, more than five hundren million years ago. The First Fleet that founded Australia loaded supplies at Cape Town on its way to New South Wales. Australian troops fought in the South African 'Boer' War and the nations were allies in two world wars. There have been sporting rivalries, trade co-operation and competition, tensions over the apartheid regime and the recent migration of South Africans to Australia. Low social status and economic disadvantage accorded to ethnic or racial groups have been a feature of both societies. As well as discussing many key comparative contemporary issues this book's crucial contribution is to combine coverage of a shared past with contemporary issues and challenges, especially those of reconciliation and the quest for social justice.

Melbourne – The Making of a Drinking and Eating Capital
By Michael Harden
Hardie Grant Publishing

Melbourne is renowned for its splendid choice of places to eat and drink – from stylish laneway bars and sidewalk cafes to elegant, award-winning restaurants.

But it has not always been this way. As little as fifty years ago the six o’clock swill held the pubs in its binge-drinking grip. Twenty years ago you could break the law trying to get a drink with your meal. Now the city has blossomed into a food lover’s paradise, which is all thanks to the changes to Victoria’s liquor licensing laws in 1988.

Regarded as a hero in restaurant and bar circles, Professor John Nieuwenhuysen was the driving force behind these changes with his visionary and controversial report on the existing liquor legislation. Respected food veterans Mietta O’Donnell, Donlevy Fitzpatrick and Stephanie Alexander were among many who seized the opportunity to throw off the shackles and provided a truly civilised wining and dining culture. The new laws also prompted the first wave of ground-
breaking drinking establishments and the first of the now prolific 'Melbourne-style’ laneway bars.

With a deft and humorous touch Michael Harden charts the movers and shakers behind Melbourne’s transformation into the thriving, intriguing city it is today. Colourfully captured in photographs old and new, Melbourne: the making of a drinking and eating capital shows why this city is truly deserving of its reputation as a world-renowned drinking and eating destination.

Nations of Immigrants – Australia and The USA Compared
Edited by John Higley and John Nieuwenhuysen with Stine Neerup
Edward Elgar, Cheltenham UK

This timely book examines the immense surges in immigration since the mid-1990s in Australia and the United States, two of the world’s most important settler-receiving countries.

Australia’s shift to a point-based, skills-oriented system is contrasted with the political deadlock that has prevented any basic change in US immigration policy during this period. Focusing on immigration policy trends, effects on labour markets, successes and failures in integrating massive numbers of new immigrants, and the future of multiculturalism, the book ponders many of the policy dilemmas that confront both countries.

Drawing on extensive research findings in the field of immigration policy, this book will prove a fascinating read for both scholars and postgraduate students working on immigration, as well as undergraduates studying courses on Australia and comparisons of the Australian and American policy arenas. Public servants engaged in administering Australian and US immigration policies will also find this book invaluable.

Laggards and Leaders in Labour Market Reform: Comparing Japan and Australia
Edited by Jenny Corbett, Anne Daly, Hisakazu Matsishige and Dehne Taylor
Routledge

A flexible Labour market is widely regarded as a key factor in encouraging economic growth and prosperity. In recent years some economies have successfully reformed their labour markets – making part-time and flexible hours easier, limiting the restrictive practices of trade unions, encouraging training and the enhancement of the skills of those in the labour market, coping with the changing age profile of the workforce and in other ways. Other economies have been less successful at labour market reform and continue to struggle with outdated structures and practices. This book discusses the key elements of labour market reform, contrasting a country where reforms have been successfully carried through (Australia), with a country where reforms have been less successful (Japan). At the same time, this book challenges the conventional view that Australia is the lucky country for all its workers – given the rising hours worked for those in work and the difficulties for young people entering the labour market. Both countries also face issues in terms of an ageing population and policy challenges in the design of safety nets and pension provision. The book therefore demonstrates to analysts of labour market reform worldwide, the key elements of successful labour market reform, and the consequential effects when the reforms are carried through, or not.

Australia’s Immigration Revolution
Andrew Markus, James Jupp and Peter McDonald
Allen & Unwin

The diversification of the immigration intake over the last 50 years, from the British Isles to Europe and Asia, is widely recognised. But there is less understanding of the development of Australia’s temporary program, which since 2000 is the major component of the immigration intake. Similarly, the development of the global labour market and the impact of this on immigrants have not entered Australian consciousness. The lack of attention to these developments stands in marked contrast to the heated controversies sparked by the arrival by boat of small numbers of asylum seekers.

Written by three leading researchers, with its analysis located in historical and international contexts, Australia’s Immigration Revolution explains developments of national importance – including groundbreaking explorations of ethnic concentration and public opinion.

Australians in Britain: The twentieth-Century Experience
Edited by Carl Bridge, Robert Crawford and David Dunstan
Monash University ePress, Clayton Australia

Australians in Britain is an edited collection of papers of international research on the character and experience of overseas Australians and Australian communities in Britain since c.1901. It offers a comprehensive overview of current scholarship in this exciting, new and developing field of inquiry. This book has a contemporary focus, drawing on both recent and historical experiences with a view to understanding continuing trends – such as the consistent preponderance of women and the recent surge in young professionals travelling to Britain – and issues as expatriation, imperialism, globalisation, national identity and overseas citizenship.

This book will appeal to scholars of Australian Studies, History, Demography, Literary and Cultural Studies, and Tourism. With an emphasis on London, Australians in Britain explores a range of subject matter including: artists, literary intellectuals, students, women, tourists and travellers, servicemen, nurses, teachers and journalists; global professionals; the changing community; demographic trends; migration; links between Australia and Britain; Australian newspapers in London; and Australia in the ‘British world’.

Globalizing the Research Imagination
Edited by Jane Kenway and Johannah Fahey
Routledge, UK

Power, Culture, Economy – Indigenous Australians and Mining
Edited by Jon Altman and David Martin
The Australian National University E Press, Canberra, Australia

This collection of papers focuses on three large, ongoing mining operations in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory under two statutory regimes – the Aboriginal Land rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 and the Native Title Act 1993. The authors outline the institutional basis to greater industry involvement while describing and analysing the best practice principles that can be utilised both by companies and Indigenous community organisations. The research addresses questions such as:

• How are economic and non-economic flows monitored?
• What are the values and aspirations which Indigenous people may bring to bear in their engagement with mining developments?
• What more should companies and government do to develop the capacity and sustainability of local Indigenous organisations?
• What mining company strategies build community capacity to deal with impacts of mining? Are these adequate?
• How to prepare for sustainable futures for Indigenous Australians after mine closure?

This research was conducted under an Australian Research Council Linkage Project, with Rio Tinto and the Committee for Economic Development of Australia as Industry Partners.

Living Outside the Walls: The Chinese in Prato
Edited by Graeme Johanson, Russell Smyth and Rebecca French, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle-upon-Tyne UK

Australians in Italy: Contemporary Lives and Impressions
Edited by Bill Kent, Ros Pesman and Cynthia Troup, Monash University ePress, Clayton Australia

While many are familiar with celebrated expatriates such as Germaine Greer, Jeffrey Smart, Peter Robb and David Malouf, hundreds of other artists, writers, musicians and intellectuals have made and continue to make a notable contribution to the cultural and intellectual lives of both countries. Whilst Australian Studies flourishes in Italian universities, Australian academics write distinguished accounts of Italian history covering various eras. Despite this sustained activity, the scholarly and cultural engagement of Australians with Italy is not a well known story.

This collection seeks to map the past and present of the Australian love affair with Italy, and yields rich insights into its causes, motivations and transformations. Contributors include former Australian Ambassador to Italy Rory Steel, poet Peter Porter, contemporary artists Euan Heng and Jo-Anne Duggan, as well as distinguished academics and young scholars. Amongst the diverse range of articles and vignettes are chapters by Ian Britain on Donald Friend’s Italian years, Loretta Baldassar exploring the phenomenon of reverse migration, and novelist Lisa Clifford reflecting on her family ties with Italy.

Australians in Italy will appeal to scholars and students of migration and multiculturalism, Australian Studies, Italian Studies, and tourism and travel. It will also delight those interested in Italy and all things Italian – people of Italian-Australian backgrounds, armchair and actual travellers, sojourners in Italy and the general reader.

Mapping Social Cohesion – the Scanlon Foundation surveys
Directed by Professor Andrew Markus

Undertaken for the Scanlon Foundation by Monash University and the Australian Multicultural Foundation Mapping Social Cohesion is a report on the first round of major longitudinal surveys on social cohesion in Australia.

The report, launched at Queen’s Hall, State Library, in April 2008, provides insights to community attitudes to immigration, multiculturalism and social cohesion. These are based on findings from specially-commissioned national and local surveys.

Topics covered include: our sense of belonging, how happy we are, how satisfied we are financially, and how much trust we place in politicians, public institutions and other people.

The report also examines complex attitudes to immigration and multicultural society, including assistance to ethnic groups, and levels of discrimination. It also examines the degree of disaffection in our community.

Social Cohesion in Australia
James Jupp and John Nieuwenhuysen with Emma Dawson, Cambridge University Press, Port Melbourne Australia

With contributions from some of Australia’s leading experts, this book addresses the threats to Australia’s social cohesion and asks how they can be countered. Issues covered include the social exclusion of Indigenous communities, feelings of marginalisation of young people, tension between mainstream and new religious groupings, inter-ethnic relations in the wake of security legislation, the relative status of overseas-born workers and the tendency of the media to devalue non-conformist minorities, values and ideas. This important new book deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in Australia’s social fabric – its past and its future.

Journal of International Migration and Integration, Volume 9, Number 2
Special Issue
Attracting New Arrivals to Smaller Cities and Rural Communities:
Findings from Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Guest Editors: Maryann Wulff, tom Carter, Rob Vineberg, and Stephen Ward

This edition developed out of research paper prepared for the 12th International Metropolis Conference held in October 2007 in Melbourne, Australia. The initiative for this research came from the Victorian State Government, sponsors of the Metropolis Conference.

The focus of the research is therefore, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. All three countries have recently introduced policy initiatives to encourage a more balanced national distribution of immigrants and refugees.

Britain’s Global Australians: Sixteen Profiles
David O’Reilly
Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, King’s College London, UK

Britain’s Global Australians features sixteen prominent British-based Australians whose work has taken them onto the global stage. Profiled by former Sydney Bulletin political editor David O’Reilly:
Michael Blakemore (producer)
Polly Borland (photographer)
Carmen Callil (publisher)
Janice Chapman (voice coach)
David Frith (cricket writer)
Trixie Gardner (politician)
Germaine Greer (controversialist)
John Jensen (cartoonist)
Phillip Knightley (journalist)
Robert May (scientist)
Peter Morris (surgeon)
Bridget Ogilvie (science administrator)
Peter Porter (poet)
Dorothy Rowe (psychologist)
Geoffrey Robertson (human rights jurist)
And Peter Thomson (priest).

New Global Frontiers in Regulation: The Age of Nanotechnology
Edited by Graeme Hodge, Diana Bowman and Karinne Ludlow, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham UK

This important volume is a timely contribution to increasing international calls to regulate nanotechnologies. By investigating the ways in which we could regulate these advances, and what we are learning from regulating existing technologies, such as biotechnologies and information technologies, the book debates the roles of government, business actors and the professions in protecting and enhancing the lives of citizens. In placing particular emphasis on the lessons of earlier technology advances, this book is unique in its broad consideration of the ethical, legal and social issues entwined within the development of the nanotechnology family.

The multi-jurisdictional and interdisciplinary nature of the book will appeal to governments, academics and civil societies across many parts of the world, while also remaining accessible to informed readers with an interest in nanotechnology and the policy and governance issues associated with technology development and regulation.
(Available in hard cover and paperback)

Counter-Terrorism and the Post-Democratic State
Edited by Jenny Hocking and Colleen Lewis,Edward Elgar, Cheltenham UK

Democratic nations are now facing an unprecedented challenge – to respond to global terrorism without simultaneously overturning fundamental human and political rights. The book addresses the critical question of whether, in the context of the ‘war on terror’, the national security imperative has compromised the democratic state.

This book draws together academics, public policy practitioners, politicians and journalists to discuss policies introduced by democratic governments which threaten the nature of the democratic state. It will be of great interest to graduate and undergraduate students in politics, public policy, international relations, criminology and terrorism and counter-terrorism studies.

New Regionalism and Asylum Seekers: Challenges Ahead
Edited by Susan Kneebone and Felicity Rawlings-Sanaei, Berghahn Books, New York USA

Globalisation of Accounting Standards
Edited by Jayne M Godfrey and Keryn Chalmers, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham UK (in press)

Globalization in the Asian Region: Impacts and Consequences
Edited by Gloria Davies and Chris Nyland, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham UK