Liberalism and Australia's Engagement with Asia

Abstract

Recent reflection on liberalism in Quadrant and elsewhere comes at a useful time— especially because of the developing crisis in our foreign relations. When David Kemp insists in The Land of Dreams that liberalism has been “the source of the dominant ideals in Australian politics for most of the country’s history” he is helping to prepare the Australian community for difficult challenges in the Asian region. He is right to complain that “the liberal project and liberalism” need a higher profile in our school curriculum. Right now, Australians have reason to think more deeply about who we are.