Dreamers and Schemers: A Political History of Australia

Politics & Social Sciences

Bongiorno, Frank

Politics & Government

La Trobe University Press

Asia is at a dangerous moment. China is rising fast. Young, reckless North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is engaging in territorial spats with the US president over nuclear missiles. Japan's nationalist government is remilitarising, throwing off the constitutional constraints imposed at the end of World War II. Washington is charting a different course, too: Donald Trump is the first US president to have contact with Taiwanese leaders since the 1970s, and also the first to edge his finger so firmly towards the nuclear button over North Korea. The doomsday clock has reached two minutes to midnight, as the possibility of global catastrophe looms ever closer.
In this revelatory analysis, strategic expert Brendan Taylor examines the four Asian flashpoints that are most likely to erupt in sudden and violent conflict: the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, the South China Sea and the East China Sea. He argues that crisis can only be averted by understanding the dynamics of these global hotspots and the complex interrelations between them. Drawing on history, contemporary sources and in-depth reports to weave an analysis both pertinent and chilling, Taylor asks what the world's major powers can do to avoid an eruption of war -- and what role Australia, as both a force in this region and a historical ally of the United States, can play to change the course of this otherwise disastrous history.

Four Flashpoints: How Asia Goes to War

Taylor, Brendan

Many people think the future is something we need to adjust to, rather than what we decide through the choices we make today. This book looks at the choices we are starting to make that will define this future. The majority of experts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics predict we are likely to have built machines as intelligent as us by the year 2062. What will the future look like when the quest to build intelligent machines has succeeded? In 2062, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Toby Walsh, a world-leader in the field and one of the 100 ‘rock stars’ of Australia’s digital revolution, considers the impact AI will have on work, war, equality, politics and, ultimately, the fate of humanity. Will automation take away most of our jobs? When will we start to see this happen? Will the robots take over? Will they become conscious? Will we perhaps become machines? Will inequality continue to increase? How can we prevent this? How will political debate adjust to the post-truth, digital world? How do we make the right choices today to ensure our future is bright? Based on a deep understanding of the technology and its implications, 2062 describes the choices we need to make today to ensure a good future. Walsh answers some of the most important and pressing questions facing us today. He concludes that, if we plan well, the future past 2062 could be very bright indeed but we need to start making some difficult choices today.

2062: The World that AI Made

Business & Money

Walsh, Toby

Industries

"Can Australia defend itself in the Asian century? How seriously ought we take the risk of war? Do we want to remain a middle power? What kind of strategy, and what Australian Defence Force, do we need? In this groundbreaking book, Hugh White considers these questions and more. With exceptional clarity and frankness, he makes the case for a reconceived defence of Australia. Along the way he offers intriguing insights into history, technology and the Australian way of war. Hugh White is the country's most provocative, revelatory and yet realistic commentator on Australia's strategic and defence orientation. In an age of power politics and armed rivalry in Asia, it is time for fresh thinking. In this controversial and persuasive contribution, White sets new terms for one of the most crucial conversations Australia needs to have." --

How to Defend Australia

White, Hugh

Legal Theory & Systems

Political Troglodytes and Economic Lunatics: The Hard Right in Australia

Kelly, Dominic

Donald Horne: A Life in the Lucky Country

Biographies & Memoirs

Cropp, Ryan

Arts & Literature

The Indo-Pacific is both a place and an idea. It is the region central to global prosperity and security. It is also a metaphor for collective action. If diplomacy fails, it will be the theatre of the first general war since 1945. But if its future can be secured, the Indo-Pacific will flourish as a shared space, the centre of gravity in a connected world.\nWhat we call different parts of the world – Asia, Europe, the Middle East – seems innocuous. But the name of a region is totemic: a mental map that guides the decisions of leaders and the story of international order, war and peace. In recent years, the label ‘Indo-Pacific’ has gained wide use, including among the leaders of the United States, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and France. But what does it really mean?\nWritten by a recognised expert and regional policy insider, Contest for the Indo-Pacific is the definitive guide to tensions in the region. It deftly weaves together history, geopolitics, cartography, military strategy, economics, games and propaganda to address a vital question: how can China’s dominance be prevented without war?

Contest for the Indo-Pacific: Why China Won't Map the Future

Medcalf, Rory

Recently the alarm has been raised - basic freedoms are under attack in our universities. A generation of 'snowflake' students are shutting out ideas that challenge their views. Ideologically motivated academics are promoting propaganda at the expense of rigorous research and balanced teaching. Universities are caving in and denying platforms to 'problematic' public speakers. Is this true, or is it panic and exaggeration?\nCarolyn Evans and Adrienne Stone deftly investigate the arguments, analysing recent controversies and delving into the history of the university. They consider the academy's core values and purpose, why it has historically given higher protection to certain freedoms, and how competing legal, ethical and practical claims can restrict free expression.\nThis book asks the necessary questions and responds with thoughtful, reasoned answers. Are universities responsible for helping students to thrive in a free intellectual climate? Are public figures who work outside of academia owed an audience? Does a special duty of care exist for students and faculty targeted by hostile speech? And are high-profile cases diverting attention from more complex, serious threats to freedom in universities - such as those posed by domestic and foreign governments, industry partners and donors?

Open Minds

Evans, Carolyn

Stone, Adrienne

Trespassing bees, murderous zebras, reasonable cows ... Ever since biblical times, animals have been clashing with human laws.\nIn Guilty Pigs, animal law experts Katy Barnett and Jeremy Gans guide readers through the philosophy and practice of animal-related law, from the very earliest cases to the issues we are debating today, including the responsibilities of pet owners and the application of human rights to animals. They also cover hunting rights, using animals to solve crime, protecting animals from abuse and neglect, and the unique nature of owning a living being.\nWhat to do with animals that injure or kill people, in particular, has long troubled humans. In medieval Europe, 'killer' animals - horses, cattle and most often pigs, which were notorious for eating young children - were put on trial. Even in the early twentieth century, circus elephants who lashed out at their keepers in America were summarily executed for their crimes. 
Filled with lively and sometimes bizarre case studies, this is a fascinating and entertaining read - for all lovers of misbehaving creatures.

Guilty Pigs: The Weird and Wonderful History of Animal Law

Gans, Jeremy

Barnett, Katy

Inga Clendinnen

Literature & Fiction

Boyce, James

Literary

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the La Trobe University Press publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by La Trobe University Press