Different paths to the modern state in Europe: the interaction between domestic political economy and interstate competition

Theoretical work on state formation and capacity has focused mostly on early modern Europe and on the experience of western European states during this period. While a number of European states monopolized domestic tax collection and achieved gains in state capacity during the early modern era, for others revenues stagnated or even declined, and these variations motivated alternative hypotheses for determinants of fiscal and state capacity. In this study we test the basic hypotheses in the existing literature making use of the large date set we have compiled for all of the leading states across the continent. We find strong empirical support for two prevailing threads in the literature, arguing respectively that interstate wars and changes in economic structure towards an urbanized economy had positive fiscal impact. Regarding the main point of contention in the theoretical literature, whether it was representative or authoritarian political regimes that facilitated the gains in fiscal capacity, we do not find conclusive evidence that one performed better than the other. Instead, the empirical evidence we have gathered lends supports to the hypothesis that when under pressure of war, the fiscal performance of representative regimes was better in the more urbanized-commercial economies and the fiscal performance of authoritarian regimes was better in rural-agrarian economie

Strange reading: Keith Windschuttle on race, Asia and White Australia

In his recently published book, The White Australia Policy, Keith Windschuttle accuses academic historians of errors of fact and judgement in their accounts of white Australia. This article examines these claims of exaggeration and distortion with particular reference to the nature and meaning of race, racism and representations of Asia in Australian history. The article rejects Winschuttle\u27s sweeping claim that academic historians have sought to make Australia appear a much more racist society than the historical record would suggest.<br /

The Gunyah lifestyle: poor health and no books. by Geoffrey Blainey

Australians have to prepare for continuing foreign criticism of our policies towards Aborigines

Northern exposure. by Geoffrey Blainey

The Federal government continues to neglect northern Australia, but our neighbours may not

Listen to the footsteps. by Geoffrey Blainey

People vote with their feet. The pattern of interstate population movement in Australia is a source of fascinating insights into changing economic and political conditions around the nation

Overcoming southern apathy towards Australia's northern regions. by Geoffrey Blainey

Blainey warns of the need to overcome hostility towards northern development by many southerners and for a more reasonable approach to setting aside land for Aboriginal people and national parks

The state of the flag. by Geoffrey Blainey

There is room for both the Southern Cross and the Union Jack on our national flag. For Prime Minister Paul Keating to suggest otherwise is disloyal and ignorant

Divided nation. by Geoffrey Blainey

Paul Keating's One Nation is a misnomer. His policies and his outbursts against England can only lead to further divisions