Paul Strangio

Paul Strangio is an associate professor of politics at Monash University. He is the author and editor of many books on Australian political history. His most recent publications are The Pivot of Power: Australian prime ministers and political leadership, 1949–2016 (Melbourne University Press, 2017) and Settling the Office: The Australian Prime Ministership from Federation to reconstruction (Miegunyah Press, 2016), both written with Paul ‘t Hart and James Walter.

'A tale of two Melbournes: Election time for the poster boy of progressive politics' by Paul Strangio

August 2022, no. 445 • 26 July 2022

It was in the wake of the landslide re-election of Daniel Andrews’s Labor government in November 2018 that the former Coalition prime minister, John Howard, christened Victoria ‘the Massachusetts of Australia’. Coming from Howard, this characterisation of Victoria was not meant as a compliment. Rather, it seemed designed as a consolation message for the local Liberal Party. He was providing ... (read more)

Paul Strangio reviews 'Follow the leader: Democracy and the rise of the strongman' (Quarterly Essay 71) by Laura Tingle

November 2018, no. 406 • 25 October 2018

As chief political correspondent for the ABC’s 7.30, Laura Tingle was a ringside commentator of the latest knockout bout of leadership pugilism in Canberra. Calling the crazed week-long events in the Liberal Party that climaxed in Malcolm Turnbull’s removal from office in August, Tingle probably felt mildly manic herself at the prospect of last-minute revisions to Follow the Leader, her third ... (read more)

Paul Strangio reviews 'John Curtin: How he won over the media' by Caryn Coatney

November 2016, no. 386 • 28 October 2016

John Curtin occupies the top tier in the pantheon of Australian national leaders. ‘Expert’ rankings of former officer holders – a practice lately imported from the United States, where presidential rating exercises have been fashionable for decades – have placed Curtin narrowly ahead of other prime-ministerial virtuosos: Alfred Deakin, Ben Chifley, Robert Menzies, and Bob Hawke. Curtin’ ... (read more)