The politics of the past and the future

In a speech to the National Civil Society Dialogue, Clive Hamilton argues that like those who gather around Quadrant, John Howard is haunted by the ghost of past ideological conflict. Someone should tell our Prime Minister that the Cold War is over; and that he won. But an ideological warrior needs enemies and if there aren’t any he must invent them. This explains his continuing attacks on universities, teachers, trade unions and NGOs. He may still be fighting yesterday’s battles but he is doing real harm in the process.