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Norman Abjorensen

Political historian Norman Abjorensen (1947–2025) wrote frequently for Inside Story between 2008 and 2021. A former Sydney Morning Herald, Age and Canberra Times journalist and a longstanding visiting fellow at ANU, his books included John Howard and the Conservative Tradition (2008) and The Manner of Their Going: Prime Ministerial Exits from Lyne to Abbott (2015). An extract from the latter is here.

National affairs Norman Abjorensen 9 April 2009 We want political leaders to be like us, but at the same time not like us, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs Norman Abjorensen 26 March 2009 History and geography suggest that Queensland’s Liberal National Party needs to think hard about its future, writes Norman Abjorensen National affairs Norman Abjorensen 11 March 2009 Self-imposed exile is the last place from which to launch a plausible leadership bid, writes Norman Abjorensen National affairs Norman Abjorensen 27 February 2009 Defence and Foreign Affairs are special cases in government, which means the rewards of the job are uncertain, writes Norman Abjorensen National affairs Norman Abjorensen 12 February 2009 The stand-off between Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull has the vital element of farce: the juxtaposition of the incongruous, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs Norman Abjorensen 29 January 2009 There is no longer a constituency for a small “l” Liberal Party, argues Norman Abjorensen
National affairs Norman Abjorensen 13 January 2009 The year 1909 saw a seachange in Australian politics, writes Norman Abjorensen on the anniversary of the fusion of the non-Labor parties National affairs Norman Abjorensen 18 December 2008 Coalitions don’t work in opposition, so the federal Nationals would be better off going it alone, writes Norman Abjorensen Essays & reportage Norman Abjorensen 10 December 2008 Liberal senator Marise Payne profiled National affairs Norman Abjorensen 3 December 2008 Wayne Swan isn’t the weak link the Coalition thinks he is, but Julie Bishop certainly is, writes Norman Abjorensen
National affairs Norman Abjorensen 26 November 2008 The contrast between the first terms of two governments – Howard’s and Rudd’s – looks like being vast, writes Norman Abjorensen National affairs Norman Abjorensen 17 November 2008 Liberal leaders are given licence to create a party in their own image, writes Norman Abjorensen, and Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t see himself as an exception