Orwell's Australia: From Cold War to Cultural Wars
By (Author) Dennis Glover
Scribe Publications
Scribe Publications
1st October 2003
Australia
Tertiary Education
Non Fiction
320.994
144
Width 136mm, Height 209mm, Spine 11mm
162g
Orwell's Australia argues that, in an era of global war and national insecurity, the Australian left must once again become the defenders of our way of life and political institutions - just as Orwell wanted the English left to do over half-a-century ago. The left needs to reclaim Orwell for Australia's good. 'Orwell has two key messages that speak directly to contemporary Australians- that respecting the truth is essential to restoring the integrity of our democratic system; and that if we want to preserve our egalitarian way of life, the centre-left must get in touch with ordinary people again.' George Orwell has had an astonishing influence on Australian politics, often in ways he would have disapproved of fiercely. Today, one hundred years after his birth, his relevance is growing rather than diminishing. Orwell's insights and values represent a challenge and an opportunity for the Australian left , especially because a host of public institutions and once-unquestioned rights are being attacked by a determined and ideologically driven band of radical conservatives, many of whom justify their beliefs through an appeal to the socialist George Orwell.
Dennis Glover is an honorary visiting fellow in the school of social sciences at La Trobe University and a speechwriter for Labor politicians. He has been principal speechwriter to the two previous leaders of the federal opposition, Simon Crean and Mark Latham, and has also worked as a political adviser to John Brumby and other Labor politicians. Before entering politics he was a historian, specialising in early modern European history and Australian cultural history. He lives in Melbourne.