book reviews

best but still blissfully assume that that the Right have succeeded in Pearson’s ideas have, however, made somehow everything will work out. a ‘cultural war’ over Indigenous their way to the political centre. This policy, he has parted ways with the is not to say that he is fence sitting Reviewed by Joel André Left. In a section called ‘Challenging or has found a middle-of-the-road Malan. He is an Australian Old Friends,’ he describes how in compromise; instead, finding the now living in Copenhagen. the late 1990s he started to doubt ‘radical centre’ is his ultimate aim. whether the policies of Left and left- It takes some re-reading to fully leaning organisations, parties and grasp what he means by radical Up from the Mission: intellectuals actually serve Indigenous centre because his language has all Selected Writings people. ‘The Left tends to support the clarity of conventional academic by Noel Pearson policies that can only waste more text and nothing of the searing prose Black Inc, 2009 precious time: further research, he uses in his opinion pieces. ‘The rehabilitation, harm minimisation, radical centre may be defined as the $34.95, 400pp improved service delivery and so intense resolution of the tensions ISBN 9781863954280 on.’ between two opposing principles The Left’s failure to see passive … a resolution that produces the oel Pearson has been welfare as the cause of Indigenous synthesis of optimum policy.’ d e s c r i b e d a s o n e o f disadvantage (not just a symptom of Further on, he describes some NAustralia’s most influential it) saw Pearson eventually conclude of the classical dialectical tensions, intellectuals. He is known for both that the Left’s way of thinking was including idealism versus realism, his work as a lawyer and lands more guilty of keeping Indigenous rights versus responsibilities, social rights activist as well as his social people down than the Right’s. ‘The order versus liberty, structure versus commentary on Indigenous issues. freedom to be irresponsible further behaviour, and opportunity versus His essays on welfare have resonated weakens the weak.’ choice. Here, he clarifies what with politicians from both sides of the Pearson is not uncritical of those being at the ‘radical centre’ entails. political spectrum. And unlike most from the Right. He is fully The radical centre is not intellectuals, his ideas have actually aware of their failings too, about securing a false made their way into government in particular the lack compromise between two policies and legislation. of empathy that some opposing points of view Up from the Mission: Selected conservative Australians but about finding the apex Writings is his first book. It consists show towards Aboriginal where two sides meet. He of speeches, essays and opinion culture. Yet, ultimately uses a pyramid metaphor editorials written over the last 21 he has found that the to talk about two qualities years. Taken as whole, the book is Right is more interested of leadership—idealism not only a repository of Pearson’s than the Left in exploring and realism. ‘The best work but a history of ’s policies that deal with leadership occurs at the Indigenous policies and politics. Indigenous people’s core point of highest tension However, the writings are not social problems. It is this between ideals and reality arranged chronologically. Speeches pragmatism that is a hallmark of … The radical centre is achieved or essays have been chosen from Pearson’s career. when both are strong.’ various pieces written over the years His reason for seeking support If one side of a dialectical struggle to illustrate a theme. Although from conservative Australians was is weak and the other is strong, this lends the book a certain to help avoid the Left-versus-Right ‘skewering’ occurs. Pearson argues disjointedness, it proves his point debate and, hopefully, lead to that this phenomenon is apparent that he has not moved closer to the more widespread support for the today in Indigenous policy. The Right or changed the substance of aspirations of . responsibility agenda has ascended what he believes in over the years. To what extent this has happened is but the rights agenda has receded. ‘Reading again what I wrote as a debatable. He hasn’t really avoided While Pearson and Warren 22-year-old, I am struck by how the Left-versus-Right conflict as Mundine have been championing little my basic convictions have many on the Left now see him the Indigenous responsibility changed.’ aligned with the Right and abhor his agenda, there has been no effective Although Pearson disagrees views on welfare reform. rights leadership and advocacy. For

Policy • Vol. 25 No. 4 • Summer 2009–10 55 book reviews

there to be a successful synthesis For this and many other reasons, Up Some of his constituents found this between rights and responsibilities from the Mission should appeal to more irksome, and it was incumbent upon in Australia, the rights agenda has than just readers of Indigenous issues. me as vice-chancellor to make these to be equally strong. Yet, according Although the language is occasionally academics stop. to Pearson the rights agenda is seen verbose and fanciful, most of the time On investigation, I found that as politically irrelevant. He argues Pearson demonstrates his ability to some of our academics were indeed that it is not possible for one actor cut to the chase and get his point broadcasting their views on Middle to play several roles in the dialectical across. He can ram points home with East politics on a website that did process, and that it is up to someone a witty phrase and effective use of not belong to the university. Still, as else to take charge of Indigenous metaphorical imagery like ‘the welfare I wrote in reply, even if the website rights leadership. pedestal.’ His articles written for The were ours, I would neither be able Since this book was compiled, Australian newspaper show that he is nor willing to make them stop. This Pearson has resigned as Director master of this genre. Despite the word is what academics do, I explained. of the Cape York Institute to restrictions, these are not superficial They express their views. This does fight ’s wild rivers rantings but heartfelt and deeply not mean that I, or my university, legislation, which on environmental thought out prose. agree with what they say. However, grounds would restrict economic This is an illuminating book—both in a phrase often misattributed to development beside rivers flowing for exposing the causes of Aboriginal Voltaire, we defend their right to through Indigenous land. Has his disadvantage and for its insight into say it. life come full circle back to his early the life of a very interesting and Even as I posted the envelope, career as an Aboriginal land rights enigmatic individual. His career as I knew this was not the response activist or has he given up waiting for a lawyer, activist and writer support my correspondent desired. I soon someone else to take up the mantle his argument for Aboriginal people received a copy of a letter he had of Indigenous rights leadership? to gain the education to live in ‘both written to the federal Minister for Clearly, Pearson sees himself as a worlds.’ That there is an Aboriginal Education asking her to intervene. leader of his people, and though not Australian of his calibre from such a She demurred; universities, she everyone welcomes his campaign, small remote community like Hope pointed out, were under the he is not wrong in doing so. Pearson Vale is cause for hope. He has shown jurisdiction of state not federal has proved that he is prepared to take the way—may others follow in his governments. the burden of responsibility that goes path. The politician and I shared a few with leadership. He was not prepared more desultory exchanges and then to sit back in opposition and just Reviewed by Sara Hudson our correspondence died out as it offer perpetual commentary with had on many similar occasions in only one trick up his sleeve—the the 13 years that I have been a vice- power to say ‘no.’ Instead, he chose For the Common Good: chancellor. Everyone champions to set aside his personal distrust or Principles of American freedom of expression in the dislike and work with the leaders Academic Freedom abstract but few can resist calling of the day to put his ideas into for censorship when they do not like by Matthew W. Finkin and practice. what is being expressed. The theme of leadership permeates Robert C. Post Even in the United States, throughout the book. It forms the Yale University Press where the First Amendment to the basis of Pearson’s introductory New Haven, 2009 Constitution guarantees freedom chapter, where he discusses who US$18.15, 263pp of speech, there were once Sedition have been Australia’s great leaders ISBN 9780300143546 Acts that made it illegal to criticise and what it takes to be a good leader. the president; even today, there are At times, this focus on leadership recently received an irate laws banning libel, obscenity and becomes a little tiresome, but it is letter from one of Australia’s hate speech. To paraphrase the title interesting to read about Pearson’s Imoderately well-known of a popular book on free speech, it growing respect for , politicians. According to my is very difficult to get people to grant his antipathy towards , correspondent, academics from my freedom to ideas they hate.1 and his take on Barack Obama’s university were distributing pro- As Matthew Finkin and Robert presidency. Palestinian ‘propaganda’ via a website. Post make clear in their book, there

56 Policy • Vol. 25 No. 4 • Summer 2009–10