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Norman Abjorensen
Norman Abjorensen is a political historian.
National affairs
Conservatives in crisis
Norman Abjorensen
3 February 2015
Australia’s conservative parties have always struggled to balance their priorities with the need for broader electoral appeal, writes
Norman Abjorensen
.…
National affairs
“He could never inspire devotion in his followers, nor the feeling that he was the essential man”
Norman Abjorensen
15 December 2014
One hundred years ago Joseph Cook made a mess of being prime minister. The parallels with today are striking, writes
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
After Abbott?
Norman Abjorensen
9 December 2014
A lean field of leadership contenders could help the prime minister hang onto his job, writes
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
Tiger by the tail
Norman Abjorensen
18 November 2014
In the long run, the enemy of my enemy isn’t always my friend, writes
Norman Abjorensen
. It’s a mistake that’s proving costly for the Liberals
International
The G20 and corruption: a slow start
Norman Abjorensen
21 October 2014
Can the G20 hope to make measurable progress in the fight against corruption?
Norman Abjorensen
looks at the story so far
National affairs
Labor, the Coalition and the problem of political identity
Norman Abjorensen
12 August 2014
Labor and the Coalition are caught between vying for the middle ground and differentiating themselves in the political marketplace. Behind it all, there’s one vital…
National affairs
Joe Hockey and the ghost of Bob Menzies
Norman Abjorensen
14 May 2014
This week’s budget raises the question of whom the Liberal Party now represents, writes
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
Challenges for the Abbott agenda
Norman Abjorensen
10 September 2013
Despite the pundits, it won’t be business as usual under the Coalition, says
Norman Abjorensen
. But the Senate will determine much of the style and rate of change
National affairs
Labor’s monsters
Norman Abjorensen
6 August 2013
The problems go back to 2007, writes
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
Two Canberras, two Kevins
Norman Abjorensen
25 June 2013
They aren’t always right in the national capital, but they are this time, writes
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
The electoral calculus of campaign oxygen
Norman Abjorensen
31 January 2013
For more than a quarter of a century, short election campaigns have been the norm, writes
Norman Abjorensen
. Julia Gillard’s announcement recalls longer, and…
National affairs
Australia’s unlucky parliaments
Norman Abjorensen
7 November 2012
If it’s true that a country gets the politicians it deserves, then Australia is in a bad way, writes
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
A certain curiosity
Norman Abjorensen
28 October 2012
Two key figures in the postwar development of the Labor Party never met, writes
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
Tony Abbott and the challenge of a Green-controlled Senate
Norman Abjorensen
4 September 2012
It looks likely that the Greens will still hold the balance of power in the Senate after the next election.
Norman Abjorensen
looks at the numbers and asks: how would…
Books & arts
Us, writ large
Norman Abjorensen
12 June 2012
Norman Abjorensen
reviews Mungo MacCallum’s
The Good, the Bad and the Unlikely: Australia’s Prime Ministers
National affairs
Behind the drama of the forty-third parliament
Norman Abjorensen
24 May 2012
A rancorous twenty months in federal politics has overshadowed the legislative achievements, argues
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
One way to lose an election
Norman Abjorensen
8 May 2012
Was it the economics or the politics of John Hewson’s Fightback! strategy that failed, asks
Norman Abjorensen
Correspondents
Summit manoeuvres at ASEAN
Norman Abjorensen
8 April 2012
The big powers were on the minds of ASEAN leaders meeting in the Cambodian capital, writes
Norman Abjorensen
in Phnom Penh
National affairs
Malcolm on the outer
Norman Abjorensen
5 April 2012
The Liberals have displaced Labor as Australia’s tribal political force, writes
Norman Abjorensen
, and that makes Malcolm Turnbull an odd person out
Books & arts
Just beyond the reach of words
Norman Abjorensen
22 March 2012
Norman Abjorensen
reviews a new biography of the enigmatic Rick Farley
National affairs
Parallel worlds
Norman Abjorensen
4 March 2012
The transition from state to federal politics is rarely smooth, writes
Norman Abjorensen
. But Bob Carr could be one of the exceptions
National affairs
Rudd’s decisive defeat
Norman Abjorensen
27 February 2012
By challenging – and decisively losing – Kevin Rudd has at least done Julia Gillard a favour or two, writes
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
At last, the right words
Norman Abjorensen
23 February 2012
Julia Gillard has finally explained the events of mid 2010, writes
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
Kevin 2012?
Norman Abjorensen
15 February 2012
Has Kevin Rudd changed enough to justify a return to the Lodge, asks
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
Tony Abbott, prime minister?
Norman Abjorensen
8 February 2012
Can the opposition leader maintain momentum, asks
Norman Abjorensen
Correspondents
How different is Morocco?
Norman Abjorensen
30 November 2011
Last week’s election helps illuminate where Morocco fits into the Arab Spring, writes
Norman Abjorensen
Correspondents
The corruption pipeline
Norman Abjorensen
10 November 2011
Governments need to enlist civil society in the fight against corruption, writes
Norman Abjorensen
in Marrakesh
Books & arts
What is the voter voting for?
Norman Abjorensen
2 September 2011
Norman Abjorensen
looks into the mind of the Australian voter
National affairs
Dark days
Norman Abjorensen
26 August 2011
The real achievements of the Gillard government are being overshadowed by Labor’s ineptness, argues
Norman Abjorensen
National affairs
Windows of opportunity
Norman Abjorensen
21 July 2011
A week might be a long time in politics, but two years mightn’t be long enough, writes
Norman Abjorensen
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