The Coming republic

Since the 1960s and the publication of The Lucky Country Donald Horne, Australia’s best-known social critic, has been promoting republicanism in the public forum. Now, at a time when our national identity is again being questioned and as we approach our hundredth birthday as a nation, he calls upon Australia to declare full constitutional independence. He envisages a president of Australia emerging – but what kind of p[resident? What kind of Australia? And, above all, how to be an Australian.

Donald Horne enlightens: how did modern Australian republicanism begin? can it really happen? And what are the risks? Myfanwy Gollan interviews the famous and the not-so-famous on their republicanism. Alison Broinowski considers Australia as the appendix of Asia. Dr Elaine Thompson makes a shopping list for a better government. Psychiatry professor, Brent Waters, looks at the ties that bind us to monarchism. Thomas Keneally speaks on democracy and the state of our national soul. And threading through the book are the voices of Joanne Citizen and her companions sitting down to an imaginary luncheon party that offers a bizarre coherence to the polemic.

Challenging and persuasive, The Coming Republic will provoke debate at a time when issues of independence and self reliance are more important than ever.