The Cambridge History of Australia: Volume 2, The Commonwealth of Australia

Volume 2 of The Cambridge History of Australia covers the period 1901 to the present day. It begins with the first day of the twentieth century, which saw the birth of the Commonwealth of Australia. In Part I the fortunes of the nation-state are traced over time: a narrative of national policies, from the initial endeavours to protect Australian living standards to the dismantling of protection, and from maintenance of the integrity of a white settler society to fashioning a diverse, multicultural one. These chapters relate how Australia responded to external challenges and adapted to changing expectations. In Part II some distinctive features of modern Australia are clarified: its enduring democracy and political stability, engagement with a unique environment, the means whereby Australians maintained prosperity, the treatment and aspirations of its Indigenous inhabitants. The changing patterns of social relations are examined, along with the forms of knowledge, religion, communication and creativity.

Volume 2. The Commonwealth of Australia: Part I: 1. Nation building, 1901–14 John Hirst; 2. The Great War and its aftermath, 1914–22 Stephen Garton and Peter Stanley; 3. Search for a solution, 1923–39 Frank Bongiorno; 4. World War 2 and post-war reconstruction, 1939–49 Kate Darian-Smith; 5. The Menzies era, 1950–66 Judith Brett; 6. Instability, 1966–82 Paul Strangio; 7. Growth resumed, 1983–2000 James Walter; 8. The new millennium Murray Goot; Part II: 9. Religion Graeme Davison; 10. Culture and media David Carter and Bridget Griffen-Foley; 11. Science and medicine Alison Bashford and Peter Hobbins; 12. Society and welfare Shurlee Swain; 13. Gender and sexuality Katie Holmes and Sarah Pinto; 14. Indigenous Australia Anna Haebich and Steve Kinnane; 15. Class Stuart Macintyre and Sean Scalmer; 16. The economy Simon Ville; 17. Government, law and citizenship Nicholas Brown; 18. Education Alison Mackinnon and Helen Proctor; 19. The environment Gregory Barton and Brett Bennett; 20. Travel and connections Agnieszka Sobocinska and Richard White; 21. Security David Lowe; 22. Australia, Britain and the British Commonwealth Carl Bridge; 23. Australia in the Asia-Pacific region Tomoko Akami and Tony Milner; 24. The history anxiety Mark McKenna.