Harry Truman

I have long thought that historians have a role to play in Australia’s policymaking process. In particular, I have wondered about historians’ potential for warning political parties against bad policies.

Recently, I have begun to think that historians might be able to move beyond advice on good or bad policy, and also offer advice on good or bad politics. These are not random musings. I am an international historian teaching at the University of Western Sydney. An Australian citizen, I have only recently returned to Australia after spending ten years in Japanese academia. During that time, I spent much time wishing – admittedly forlornly – that someone in the Rudd Cabinet would seek my advice concerning Australian-Japanese relations.

Whaling seems to push mercifully few of PM Julia Gillard’s buttons. That has – thankfully – resulted in a smoother Australian-Japanese relationship than was the case during much of Kevin Rudd’s time at the top. It has also forced me to look elsewhere for bad policies and bad politics.

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