Menzies Research Centre

The National Curriculum epitomises almost everything that is wrong about modern schooling. It is an abstruse, cluttered document that brushes aside the need for tried and tested teaching methods and is burdened with an ugly, post-modern agenda. Sociologist Frank Furedi joins Nick Cater discuss the cultural underpinnings of the educational malaise. Watercooler is brought to you by the Menzies Research Centre. www.menziesrc.org

Former Liberal Party Leader Brendan Nelson on history, Liberal values and their defence as he launches David Kemp's book, A Liberal State. Followed by a reply from Dr Kemp.

Claire Lehmann, the founding editor of Quillette, talks to Nick Cater about the philosophy that drove her to become an entrepreneur of free thought.

Joel Kotkin warns that traditional middle class aspirations and values such as family, nationhood and home ownership are under threat from a new class of oligarchs. In the US, this aristocracy consists of a handful of powerful tech companies isolated from and unaccountable to the broader community. Their power and privilege is sustained by a cosmopolitan breed of opinion makers who refuse to entertain dissenting perspectives and zealously inculcate the information media and higher education institutions with one-sided worldviews. Joel is the author of “The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class”. The former registered Democrat became disillusioned with the party when it abandoned its traditional commitments to colour-blind racial equality, upward mobility and economic growth. a presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University Hosted by Executive Director Nick Cater, the MRC's Watercooler webcast series features interviews with special guests from politics, business, academia, the arts and media discussing the latest policy issues. #JoelKotkin​ #LiberalCapitalism​ #NeoFeudalism​ #MiddleClassValues​ If you like our Watercooler content, please join the Menzies Research Centre mailing list so you can receive our weekly newsletter and be notified of upcoming events and special offers – it’s free: https://www.menziesrc.org/mailing-list​ Follow the MRC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MenziesRC​ Follow the MRC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/menziesresea...​ Follow the MRC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/menz...​ Follow the MRC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menzies_res...​ MRC Website: https://www.menziesrc.org/home​ MRC Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-440518190​ Stay up to date with our latest videos by subscribing to the MRC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Gl...​

John Anderson talks to Nick Cater about the cultural concerns that have driven him to seek a second career in Parliament. John Anderson served as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia for 6 years between 1999 and 2005 under John Howard. He host the Conversations series on YouTube

David Furse-Roberts joins Nick Cater to discuss his new book oratorical highlights from the speeches of the great Sir Robert Menzies. Menzies in His Own Words is published by Jeparit Press. Order at menziesrc.org/books

In the second of two podcasts, John Howard and John Anderson discuss the themes in Anderson’s Eighth John Howard Lecture which explores the corrosive influence of identity politics and the grim ideology underlying it.

In the first of two podcasts, former deputy prime minister John Anderson delivers the Eighth John Howard Lecture exploring the corrosive influence of identity politics and the grim ideology underlying it.

The Australian Christian Lobby's Martyn Iles joins Nick Cater to discuss the assault on religious freedom and other challenges to civil society

Brendan O'Neill, editor of spiked, joins Nick Cater from London to swap notes on cultural and political developments.