Myths, symbols and branding

This thesis explored the hypothesis that myths + symbols + branding, created the Republic of Türkey's collective group identity, and the identity of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The same formula tested the 'creation' of Europe/EU's group identity. Three formulas were created: bridge-word formula; composite-word formula; cyclical-word formula, to test this premise.

Understanding and misunderstanding Nazi Germany : four Australian visitors to Germany in 1938

This article examines the visits by four Australians, Bill Oats, Thomas White, Jessie Street and Robert Menzies, to Germany in the northern summer of 1938. It analyses their observations of Nazi Germany and Hitler’s actions over Czechoslovakia. Menzies was more positive about the Nazi system than the other three, but all four condemned its barbaric nature. On Czechoslovakia, Menzies, a key conservative federal minister, was the only one to approve of appeasement over Czechoslovakia. The article explores the significance of these visits for the four observers’ lives and especially for Australia. It argues that Menzies’ support for appeasement, unlike other appeasers, did not, in the long term, harm his political leadership.

Stanley Melbourne Bruce in London, 1938-41

This article examines Stanley Melbourne Bruce's role as Australian high commissioner in London during the approach to the Second World War and the European War from 1939 to 1941. It argues that Bruce in this period was an influential high commissioner who strongly influenced Australian foreign policy and exercised some influence, albeit with limitations, on the British government. After 1933, Bruce had transformed the office of Australian high commissioner in London from a largely commercial position into one with real diplomatic influence. In the approach to war, Bruce tended to bolster the policy of appeasement on which the Chamberlain government was already decided and in the Phoney War his cautious arguments contributed to the delay of the Allied intervention in Norway. With the accession of Winston Churchill to the prime ministership in May 1940, Bruce lost some of the influence he had had with Neville Chamberlain and he was on the losing side of the argument inside the British Cabinet about the possibility of a negotiated peace in May–June 1940. Despite the limitations of his personal relationship with Churchill, he was nonetheless an influential voice with other British ministers and senior officials and with the US ambassador in London and key members of the Roosevelt administration. This equipped him to play an effective part in the emerging Anglo-American alliance and issues of post-war international reconstruction.

Interview with Mustafa Sabaroedin

Mustafa Sabaroedin is an Indonesian who studied in Australia on two occasions; at Monash University in 1965-1971 and at RMIT in 1978. He also worked in Australia for several years in between these two periods of study. He studied on Colombo Plan scholarships while in Australia, and completed Bachelor and Diploma degrees in Engineering while at Monash University, and continued his studies to improve his qualifications without completing an official degree at RMIT. The interview was conducted in English on 19 December 2013 by Dr. Jemma Purdey of Deakin University. This set comprises: an interview recording, and a timed summary.