Letters to a Critic

The eleven years that passed between the 1943 and the 1954 elections were arguably some of the most pivotal in Australian history. This was a period of intense political, policy and strategic transition, which saw a popular Labor Government and its state-led vision for post-war reconstruction toppled by Robert Menzies and his newly formed political machine, the Liberal Party of Australia. Meanwhile, a backdrop of rising Cold War tensions came to dominate domestic and international policymaking, ushering in a divisive communist party ban, the ANZUS treaty, the Colombo Plan, and Australia's own agency of international espionage, ASIS.

But what was the difference in practical terms between Menzies and his predecessors? What role was the state to play under a centre-right government, and would Menzies be able to live up to the liberal ideals with which he had won over the Australian public? All these issues are explored in the second of a four-volume history of Menzies and his world, based on conferences convened by the Robert Menzies Institute at the University of Melbourne.

Contributors include Christopher Beer, Andrew Blyth, Troy Bramston, Lorraine Finlay, Nicolle Flint, David Furse-Roberts, Anne Henderson, David Lee, Lucas McLennan, Lyndon Megarrity, Charles Richardson, William Stoltz and Tom Switzer.

About the Author

Rodney James is an Australian curator and writer specialising in nineteenth and twentieth century art writing and research, collection management, exhibitions, visual art projects and museum policy and strategy. His most recent publications include 'Blood Red- Ivan Durrant's social conscience', in Ivan Durrant, Barrier Draw, National Gallery of Victoria, 2020 and Una Deerbon- Australian potter 1882-1972 (2019), the first monograph on the art and life of this pioneering mid-century artist. He lives and works on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula/ Bunurong land and waters with his wife Trish and their cat, Oreo.