New Books in Sociology

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

Jun 23, 2025
Matthew Allen, a Senior Lecturer in Historical Criminology at the University of New England, uncovers the fascinating interplay between alcohol and democratic ideals in colonial Australia. He discusses how public drinking rituals both unified and excluded different societal groups, notably women and Indigenous people. The toast, once a symbol of fraternity, also reflected the social hierarchies of the time. As temperance movements emerged, they reshaped notions of citizenship and respectability, highlighting alcohol's role in enforcing political boundaries. A riveting exploration of history and social dynamics!
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ANECDOTE

Matthew Allen's Personal Drinking Story

  • Matthew Allen shared his personal conscious drinking habit, counting every drink since his PhD days.
  • He connected his personal interest with a broader political and social analysis of alcohol's role.
INSIGHT

Alcohol: Necessary Evil Duality

  • Alcohol was seen as both necessary and evil in early colonial Australia, particularly for labor and military.
  • Convicts were prohibited from drinking due to reformist ideas linking alcohol to crime and immorality.
INSIGHT

Rum Rebellion’s Symbolic Role

  • The Rum Rebellion was more about political power struggles and land rights than just rum.
  • Rum symbolized autocratic control but was not the primary cause of the rebellion.
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