Boyer Lectures
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2025 ABC Boyer Lecture Series: Australia: A Radical Experiment in Democracy
Curated and hosted by respected journalist, author and broadcaster, Dr Julia Baird, this year's Boyer Lecture Series explores the theme Australia: A Radical Experiment in Democracy, through five distinct orations examining the strengths and challenges of our democracy as we navigate unprecedented global changes in politics, society and technology.
The speakers—drawn from academia, literature, and policy— reflect on the paradox of Australians' declining trust in politicians alongside their continued faith in the integrity of electoral processes.
This year's keynote is Justin Wolfers, Professor of Economics and Public Policy from the University of Michigan and visiting professor at the University of NSW, whose lecture "Australia is Freaking Amazing", is enthusiastic about our strong institutions and asks whether Australia needs a form of conservative radicalism?
The second lecturer is the Hon John Anderson, AO, farmer, grazier and former deputy prime minister, whose talk, 'Our Civilisational Moment' argues that Australia lacks the spirit, not the machinery of democracy.
Our third lecturer is Larissa Behrendt, a Euahleyai/Gamillaroi woman, Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney, and host of the ABC Radio National's Speaking Out program. Her lecture, 'Justice, Ideas and Inclusion' outlines the strengths and pitfalls of our country's legal system, and how our democracy might be enriched by our First Nations' peoples' wisdom of interdependence.
Amelia Lester, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy magazine, our fourth lecturer, examines how Artificial Intelligence could potentially undermine democracy here, in her lecture entitled 'AI, On Australia's Terms'.
And in the final lecture, James Curran, author and professor of modern history at the University of Sydney, will argue that the US Presidency holds advantages for Australia, if we are brave enough to take them, and to confront possible changes in our historic alliance, in his speech, 'Trump's Gift'.
The keynote lecture will be broadcast on October 18 on ABC-TV and on consecutive Sundays starting October 19 on ABC Radio National's Sunday Extra program, at 8.05am.
Sunday 26th October at 8.05am you can hear Hon John Anderson's lecture
Sunday 2nd November at 8.05am tune in to hear Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt
Sunday 9th November at 8.05am on Radio National Amelia Lester will give her lecture
Sunday 16th November at 8.05am on Radio National you can hear Professor James Curran's lecture 'Trump's Gift'
All lectures can also be watched via ABC iview and heard at any time on the ABC ListenApp.
Curated and hosted by respected journalist, author and broadcaster, Dr Julia Baird, this year's Boyer Lecture Series explores the theme Australia: A Radical Experiment in Democracy, through five distinct orations examining the strengths and challenges of our democracy as we navigate unprecedented global changes in politics, society and technology.
The speakers—drawn from academia, literature, and policy— reflect on the paradox of Australians' declining trust in politicians alongside their continued faith in the integrity of electoral processes.
This year's keynote is Justin Wolfers, Professor of Economics and Public Policy from the University of Michigan and visiting professor at the University of NSW, whose lecture "Australia is Freaking Amazing", is enthusiastic about our strong institutions and asks whether Australia needs a form of conservative radicalism?
The second lecturer is the Hon John Anderson, AO, farmer, grazier and former deputy prime minister, whose talk, 'Our Civilisational Moment' argues that Australia lacks the spirit, not the machinery of democracy.
Our third lecturer is Larissa Behrendt, a Euahleyai/Gamillaroi woman, Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney, and host of the ABC Radio National's Speaking Out program. Her lecture, 'Justice, Ideas and Inclusion' outlines the strengths and pitfalls of our country's legal system, and how our democracy might be enriched by our First Nations' peoples' wisdom of interdependence.
Amelia Lester, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy magazine, our fourth lecturer, examines how Artificial Intelligence could potentially undermine democracy here, in her lecture entitled 'AI, On Australia's Terms'.
And in the final lecture, James Curran, author and professor of modern history at the University of Sydney, will argue that the US Presidency holds advantages for Australia, if we are brave enough to take them, and to confront possible changes in our historic alliance, in his speech, 'Trump's Gift'.
The keynote lecture will be broadcast on October 18 on ABC-TV and on consecutive Sundays starting October 19 on ABC Radio National's Sunday Extra program, at 8.05am.
Sunday 26th October at 8.05am you can hear Hon John Anderson's lecture
Sunday 2nd November at 8.05am tune in to hear Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt
Sunday 9th November at 8.05am on Radio National Amelia Lester will give her lecture
Sunday 16th November at 8.05am on Radio National you can hear Professor James Curran's lecture 'Trump's Gift'
All lectures can also be watched via ABC iview and heard at any time on the ABC ListenApp.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 10, 2006 • 30min
Lecture 5: The Long Expansion
The 1990 recession returned Australia to low inflation and paved the way for the sort of stability—15 years and counting—that earlier recessions had failed to achieve. Through the 1990s sustained economic growth re-emerged, and a new approach to monetary policy based on inflation targeting and central bank independence was put in place.
Dec 3, 2006 • 29min
Lecture 4: The Recession of 1990 and its Legacy
Finance excess saw boom turn to bust, and Australia experience its third recession in a quarter of a century. Then-treasurer Paul Keating would infamously observe it was 'the recession we had to have.' Perhaps it was—or was it caused by overly tight monetary policy?
Nov 26, 2006 • 32min
Lecture 3: Reform and Deregulation
By the 1970s the world's developed economies were stuck in the worst position they had been in since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Nov 19, 2006 • 30min
Lecture 2: From Golden Age to Stagflation
For the world's developed economies, the end of the second world war was the trigger for almost 30 years of sustained growth.
Nov 12, 2006 • 27min
Lecture 1: The Golden Age
The end of the second world war ushered in an era of incomparable economic growth. In the era of post-war reconstruction the world's developed countries would enjoy a 'golden age' of low inflation and full employment. Guided by the theories of John Maynard Keynes, governments became increasingly confident in how to apply macroeconomic policy.
Dec 21, 2003 • 28min
Lecture 6: Punching Above Our Weight?
Owen Harries summarises the four traditions of American foreign policy as identified by Walter Russell Mead, and conducts a similar overview of Australia's foreign policy traditions. Against this background, he looks at the policy of the Howard government over the last year and a half – the policy of unhesitating, unqualified and conspicuous support for the United States in its wars against terrorism and against Iraq.
Dec 14, 2003 • 32min
Lecture 5: Challengers
Throughout history, hegemons have been challenged. What challengers is the United States likely to face in coming decades? Owen Harries assesses the prospects of the two most likely sources of challenge to American dominance, China and a united Europe. He looks at military, economic and political capabilities, and at the effects that demographic changes will have on them as well as on America itself. But will America's biggest potential threat be America itself?
Dec 7, 2003 • 34min
Lecture 4: Civilisations and Cultures - Clashing or Merging?
Until recently cultures and the differences between them have played but a small role in the study of international politics. This is because virtually all serious relations between states took place within western civilisation. Owen Harries looks at how this has changed as a result of two interrelated processes: first, because of the spectacular - and in many cases unanticipated - economic progress of some non-western states; and second, because of the rapid progress of globalisation and modernisation.
Nov 30, 2003 • 29min
Lecture 3: A Democratic World
As Owen Harries discussed in his previous lecture, America has proclaimed a policy of assertively promoting democracy around the world. Almost 30 years ago some commentators predicted that democracy was in decline, but such predictions have not come to pass - and indeed the reverse could be said to be true.
Nov 23, 2003 • 28min
Lecture 2: Taking on Utopia
In his second lecture Owen Harries details how the United States has evolved since the fall of the Soviet Union. In the first decade it failed to define and activate a grand purpose of mission in line with its status as the sole superpower. September 11 2001 changed that, giving the country the clear purpose that had been lacking, with influence shifting to those who believed that the country's destiny was to reshape the world. 9/11 was not a disaster merely to be avenged, but an opportunity to reawaken and, some say, direct America back to its true historical mission.
