
The Politics of Suffering
Indigenous Australia and the End of the Liberal Consensus
Peter Sutton(Author)
Melbourne University Press
2nd Edition
Will be published approx. on 1. January 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-522-85871-6 (ISBN)
Description
Combining original observation with deep emotional engagement, this provocative book argues that, despite claims to the contrary, the quality of life of indigenous Australians did not improve between 1970 and the year 2000. Debunking past attempts to improve the tragic situation of many Aboriginal communities, this record discusses the reforms that granted land rights and encouraged traditional cultures, in the hope that this empowerment would be beneficial. Erroneously, however, this same period saw a decline in safety, health, literacy, numeracy, and employment within the Aboriginal community. Groundbreaking and informative, this document offers fresh insight and hope for a new era in indigenous politics.
Reviews / Votes
Incandescent, emotional, tragic and challenging." -Marcia Langton, Foundation Chair in Australian Indigenous Studies, University of Melbourne"In the often-tortuous terrain of indigenous politics, Peter Sutton is a myth-buster. Through personal observation, forensic rigor and an anthropologist's eye, he questions the foundations on which 40 years of public policy, often imposed with bipartisan goodwill, has been constructed." -Russell Skelton, contributor, Age
"I expect that this book will become the yardstick by which most recent critiques of indigenous affairs policy and what comes out on the subject over the next decade will be judged." -Christopher Pearson, contributor, Weekend Australian
More details
Edition
2nd Second Edition, Second edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Carlton
Australia
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
436 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-522-85871-6 (9780522858716)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
07/2009
Simon + Schuster LLC
€16.42
Available for download
Person
Peter Sutton is an Australian Research Council Professorial Fellow at the University of Adelaide. A world-renowned anthropologist and field linguist, he has worked on land claims across Australia since 1969. His books include Dreamings: The Art of Aboriginal Australia and Native Title in Australia: an Ethnographic Perspective.