The Australian nation began as one of the worlds first social democracies. Today its political axis has shifted to make it one of the worlds leading liberal countries, enjoying unparalleled prosperity. This book tells how, when and why this happened. It locates the day-to-day struggles of political life in Australia within both domestic and global ideologies and economics, in particular within the profound historical shift that has seen socialism fail throughout the world and liberalism triumph in its place. Bob Catley is a former Labor member of the House of Representatives and a one-time advisor to the Hawke government. He is now Professor of Management and Head of the School of Business of the University of Newcastle at Ourimbah.