Clive Hamilton’s memoir of 40 years in activism is most of all a narrative of ideas in action. He argues for the power of provocation – and against the left, the right and China.
Viewing China as an ‘enemy’ to the West is counterproductive. We need to embrace a new approach that simultaneously ‘engages and constrains’ China instead.
The author of the controversial Silent Invasion argues it’s not the book, but the reaction to it, that has highlighted something troubling in Australian intellectual life.
Clive Hamilton paints a picture of China’s unrelenting determination not only to control those within the country, but also to dominate the world using whatever means at its disposal.
AAP/Wang Zhou
Clive Hamilton’s book is perhaps a useful reminder that we must not be naïve about our relationship with China, but his prescription is the wrong direction for tackling the genuine issues he raises.
Environmental activist Jonathan Moylan (centre) with supporters as he leaves a Sydney court in 2013. Moylan has been charged over a hoax email that affected the share price of Whitehaven Coal.
AAP Image/Dean Lewins
Here is a tough question – what are the limits of legitimate protest? As Lord Keynes is famously reputed to have said, everything depends on everything else. What is protest? What is legitimate? I’m going…