Publisher's Synopsis
In this urgent essay, George Megalogenis argues that Australia risks becoming globalisation's next and most unnecessary victim. The next shock, whenever it comes, will find us with our economic guard down, and a political system that has shredded its authority.
Balancing Act is a passionate look at the politics of change and renewal, and a bold call for active government. It took World War II to provide the energy and focus for the reconstruction that laid the foundation for modern Australia. Will it take another crisis to prompt a new reconstruction?
"Australia is in transition. Saying it is easy. The panic kicks in when we are compelled to describe what the future might look like. There is no complacent middle to aim at. We will either catch the next wave of prosperity, or finally succumb to the Great Recession." -George Megalogenis, Balancing Act
This issue also contains correspondence discussing Quarterly Essay 60, Political Amnesia, from Bernie Fraser, Amanda Walsh, Tarah Barzanji, Allan Behm, Jennifer Rayner, Anne Tiernan, Graham Evans, John Quiggin, Scott Ludlam, Michael Keating, Stephen Sedgwick, and Laura Tingle