Australian Story: Kevin Rudd and the Lucky Country: Quarterly Essay 36

Description

Mungo MacCallum investigates political leadership in Australia, past and present. This is a characteristically barbed and perceptive look at the challenges facing the Rudd government and Australia. MacCallum argues that the things we used to rely on are not there anymore. On the Right, the blind faith in markets has recently collapsed. The Left lost its guiding light with the demise of the socialist dream. In entertaining fashion, MacCallum shows how Australia's history has been one of great illusions: endless pastures, endless gold, a new Britannia, and more. But while our past big visions seem to have come undone, we need a new one more than ever. This essay is both a report on the Rudd government and a broader meditation on leadership in a time of major change and challenge. What do we want from our leaders at such a time? Why is Rudd doing so well in the polls? What does he know about Australia that his opponents don't?

Mungo MacCallum is one of Australia's most influential political journalists. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has worked for most of Australia's leading newspapers and magazines and been a journalist and broadcaster for the ABC and SBS. His books include Mungo- The Man Who Laughs, How To Be a Megalomaniac and Poll Dancing- The Story of the 2007 Election.