A Free Country: Australians’ Search for Utopia 1861-1901

A Free Country: Australians' Search for Utopia 1861-1901 tells
how Australians, inspired by their new democracy, attempted to use their
freedom to build a society without social and economic conflict.
As the second book in a landmark five-volume Australian Liberalism series, A Free Country
shows the successes and missteps in the attempt to establish the legal
and moral foundations for a liberal society in Australia, examining the
ideological battles of the period.
The national politics of
twentieth-century Australia had their roots during this time, as utopian
dreams of 'social reconstruction' opposed liberal ideals of individual
freedom, fostering the concept of 'class wars' and leading to the
ongoing involvement of trade unions in politics.
As emerging
collective ideas of nationalism, empire, race and class challenged
individual rights and threatened to seed domestic and international
conflict, liberals succeeded in bringing the six colonies into one
Australian nation founded on liberal principles, writing a constitution
hailed as the most democratic in the world.