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Matthew Allen, "Drink and Democracy: Alcohol and the Political Imaginary in Colonial Australia" (McGill-Queen's UP, 2025)

New Books in Sociology

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Alcohol, Rebellion, and Identity in Colonial Australia

This chapter examines the intricate relationship between alcohol and democracy in 19th century colonial Australia, highlighting the cultural, political, and social dimensions of drinking. It delves into the historical tensions surrounding alcohol regulation, the Rum Rebellion, and the complex lives of convicts in relation to their drinking practices. Through this exploration, the chapter reveals how alcohol served both as a stimulant for labor and a symbol of broader societal issues related to governance and communal identity.

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