THE NATION REVIEWED

“Without question, the Australians serving in Afghanistan deserve our admiration and respect. But gushing hyperbole only serves to distract and detract from what is needed most: a hard-headed, self-interested assessment of why our troops are there, what they are achieving and whether it’s worth it.”

In the first Monthly Comment, Sally Neighbour addresses Australia’s romantic fixation with the Anzac tradition. The reverent, and sometimes jingoistic, tone that pervades political debate surrounding Australia’s military commitment in Afghanistan should not, Neighbour argues, take the place of sound strategic assessment.

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In a second Comment, Julian Morrow follows the post-parliamentary careers of ALP ministers – straight to the big end of town. Lured by the financial advantages of corporate life, ex-ministers continue to benefit from their parliamentary pensions while engaging in lobbying or “special” advisory roles for big business.

Plus, in “Inside the Pillbox”, Gail Bell confronts the modern workplace battle of bullying; and in “The Bird Man and Mrs Gluck”, Delia Falconer uncovers a unique history within iconic Kings Cross park.

THE MONTHLY ESSAYS

“[Marcia] Langton’s sense of the world was transformed in Asia. She had grown up in a world of poverty, police brutality and arbitrary racism, under a regime of de facto apartheid where blacks walked on one side of the road and sat on one side of the classroom … ‘To Asians, I wasn’t black.'”

In “Who’s Afraid of Marcia Langton?”, Peter Robb talks to the scholar, activist and Indigenous leader. Born in Brisbane, Langton was politically active against institutional racism in the 1960s, eventually finding freedom through travel abroad. Since returning home, Langton has forged an impressive academic career and political identity in the same realm as Noel Pearson and Lowitja O’Donoghue. Known for her formidable presence, Robb dares to “understand a few things” in this rare profile.

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“What was remarkable about the [Julian Assange sex crime] case was that a number of prominent feminists broke ranks to argue for a relatively sceptical take on the accusations.”

In “Crayfish Summer”, Guy Rundle assesses changes in Sweden’s sexual offences laws in light of controversial accusations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Bringing new evidence to the fore in Assange’s defence, Rundle questions how far the "world’s most feminist state" is allowing law to intervene in determining the nature of sexual consent.  (Not available online.)

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“In many respects, Tony Blair gained the world whilst losing his soul.”

In “Chariots of Fire”, Lindsay Tanner examines the legacy of Britain’s ex-prime minister Tony Blair. Tanner looks to Blair’s major reforms, his battle with a powerful media and the dominance of spin, and the ultimate consequences of taking the UK to Iraq.

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“The clamour to write the definitive piece on 'the St Kilda Schoolgirl' was over. The spell had been lifted and everyone was naked, muddied and a little bit ashamed.”

In “Out of Bounds”, Anna Krien looks at the media storm surrounding 17-year-old Kim Duthie, as well as the AFL’s efforts to balance social responsibility programs with its “we’re only having fun” boys' club culture.

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“East Timor’s best and brightest … feel they have been denied a chance to participate in a society for which they sacrificed all.”

In “Postcolonial Blues”, Jill Jolliffe investigates the political and social struggles of East Timor since independence in 2002. Civil strife, guerilla warfare and political assassinations continue to blight the landscape of a free nation. 

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“Our relationship to [Adrian Nisbett] changed from that of boys and their beloved teacher to a pack of dogs and its quarry.”

In “The Old Boy”, Malcolm Knox recalls his school days at affluent Sydney private school Knox Grammar, where he was taught by Adrian Nisbett, a charismatic English master. In 2010, Nisbett was found guilty of sex offences dating to the ’70s and ’80s.

ARTS & LETTERS

“Often songs begin with Gurrumul singing in a bass-toned natural register; quickly a high harmony enters to offer melting sweetness and contrast, and then come block-layered harmonies; add humming, scat sung noises and clicks to this, and the most intriguing and revolutionary aspect of the man’s art is the way he uses his voice .”

In “To the Heart”, Robert Forster reviews Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu’s latest album, Rrakala. The award-winning artist sings mostly in Yolngu language about life in North-east Arnhem Land.

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“[Hans] Keilson’s dedication to psychiatry is manifest, as is the stunning moral and literary poise that enables him to complete so intellectually daring a work under such turbulent circumstances.”

 In “Case Histories”, Inga Clendinnen reviews Hans Keilson’s Comedy in a Minor Key (1947) and The Death of the Adversary (1959). In revisiting these two notable novels by the centenarian, Clendinnen is enthralled.

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Plus, in “Triumph of the Kill”, Luke Davies reflects on two foreign language films, Susanne Bier’s Oscar-winner In a Better World and Denis Villeneuve’s Incendies.