'The collection if particularly useful for those already well acquainted with Australian history and its individual institutions since it offers a variety of alternative perspectives for understanding their developments and impacts. It is also useful for those with interests in the specific chapter topics since the authors engage in lively fashion with the themes of institutions and the empirics of Australian social life.' Journal of Public Administration

• Introduction Geoffrey Brennan and Francis G. Castles; 1. Australian institutions and Australia's welfare Francis G. Castles; 2. The institutions of microeconomic regulation and reform Geoffrey Brennan and Jonathon Pincus; 3. Globalization and Australian institutions John Braithwaite; 4. Including Australia: a democratic history John Dryzek; 5. Waltzing Matilda: gender and Australian political institutions Marian Sawer; 6. The language of leadership: Prime Ministers as political institutions John Uhr; 7. The grammar of colonial legality: subjects, objects and the rule of law Martin Krygier.