131-109 Whose History? Australia's Disputed Past

Formerly available as 131-003. Students who have completed 131-003 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. It is recommended that this subject be undertaken in conjunction with 131-190 Australia: Histories of the Present. This subject is recommended for students wishing to complete a major in Australian studies.

The subject examines recent conflicts in Australian public life which turn on conflicting views of Australia's past, as well as recent high-stakes debates between Australian historians. The subject critically examines these historical conflicts over land, labour, gender, population, political and human rights, sovereignty and external relations to explore ways in which the past continues to inform and shape the present. Topics covered will include the fiction of 'terra nullius', disputes over frontier wars, convictism, Indigenous cultural survival, the White Australian policy, federation, the British connection, Australian colonialism in the Pacific, museums and public history. But attention will also be given to the ways in which invocations of versions of Australian history and tradition animates debate on matters as diverse as immigration and refugee policy, labour market reform, foreign policy and health care. The subject thus aims to clarify the bases of the so-called ''history wars' of the early 21st century within their historical, cultural and political contexts, and to explore the present uses of the Australian past.

Class participation and written work totalling 4000 words.

A subject reader will be available.