Emeritus Professor Michael Pusey

Emeritus Professor Michael Pusey

Emeritus Professor

BA Melb., DipEd. Tas, EdD Harv.

Arts, Design & Architecture
School of Social Sciences

Michael Pusey studied in Melbourne and Paris before taking his doctorate from Harvard University in the United States. His first books were The Dynamics of Bureaucracy (Wiley and Son 1976) and, subsequently, Jurgen Habermas (Tavistock 1986). In the early 1990s Michael’s book on Economic Rationalism in Canberra A Nation Building State Changes its Mind (Cambridge 1991) started a national debate on ‘economic rationalism’ and brought the term into public usage. It showed how the Canberra policy apparatus had been taken over by neo-liberal 'economic rationalists' and warned of the social costs of free market economic reform. Thereafter during the 1990s he was Director of the Middle Australia Project researches into the broad Australian middle classes’ experience of economic restructuring. This research is presented in The Experience of Middle Australia The Dark Side of Economic Reform (Cambridge 2003). Michael’s 2003 lecture to the Australian Senate, ‘An Australian Story. the Troubling Experience of Economic Reform’, can be downloaded in pdf form from the website http://www.michaelpusey.com.au/. With Dr Paul Jones he is now working on a study titled ‘Political Communication and Media Regulation in Australia’ and developing a new interest in intergenerational relationships. Michael’s writings on economic reform and on the changing Australian middle class have involved over two hundred and fifty commentaries and interviews on radio, television and in the metropolitan press. In 2005 The Sydney Morning Herald listed Michael Pusey as one of Australia’s leading public intellectuals.

Phone
61 2 9385 1807
  • Books | 2003
    Pusey MR, 2003, The experience of middle Australia: The dark side of economic reform, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
    Books | 1991
    Pusey M, 1991, Economic rationalism in Canberra: A nation-building state changes its mind, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511597121
    Books | 1987
    Pusey M, 1987, Jürgen Habermas, E. Horwood, London
    Books | 1976
    Pusey M, 1976, The dynamics of bureaucracy: A case analysis in education, Wiley, Sydney
  • Book Chapters | 2013
    Pusey M, 2013, 'Globalization transforms the broad middle class.', in Tazreiter C; Tham S (ed.), Globalization and social transformation in the Asia-Pacific: The Australian and Malaysian experience, Palgrave Macmillan, London, pp. 47 - 62, http://www.palgravemacmillan.com.au/palgrave/onix/isbn/9781137298379
    Book Chapters | 2010
    Pusey M, 2010, '25 years of neo-liberalism in Australia', in Manne R; McKnight D (ed.), Goodbye to all that: On the failure of neo-liberalism & the urgency of change, Black Inc. Agenda, Melbourne, pp. 125 - 146
    Book Chapters | 2008
    Pusey M, 2008, 'In the wake of economic reform ... new prospects for nation-building?', in Butcher J (ed.), Australia under construction. Nation-building: Past, present and future, ANU Press, Canberra, pp. 17 - 31, https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/33817/458814.pdf?sequence=1#page=33
    Book Chapters | 2005
    Pusey M; Turnbull N, 2005, 'Have Australians embraced economic reform', in Wilson S; Gibson R; Meagher G; Denemark D; Western M (ed.), Australian social attitudes. The first report, UNSW Press, Sydney
    Book Chapters | 2004
    Jones PK; Pusey MR, 2004, 'Class and media influence in Australia', in Heider D (ed.), Class and news, edn. 1, Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, Maryland (USA), pp. 305 - 324
    Book Chapters | 2004
    Pusey MR, 2004, 'Who's to blame? Big business and CEOs on perverse [sic] salaries. That's who!', in Sawer M; Hindess B (ed.), Us and them: Anti-elistism in Australia, API Network, Curtin University, pp. 183 - 203
    Book Chapters | 2003
    Pusey MR, 2003, 'Econo-rot', in Craven P (ed.), The best Australian essays 2003, Black Inc. Books, Melbourne, pp. 133 - 143
    Book Chapters | 2002
    Pusey MR, 2002, 'Globalization and the impacts of economic rationalism on quality of life in 'advanced' societies', in Lamberton D (ed.), Managing the global: Globalization, employment and quality of life, I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd, London, pp. 131 - 144
    Book Chapters | 2000
    Pusey MR, 2000, 'Middle Australians in the grip of economic reform. Will they volunteer?', in Warburton J; Oppenheimer M (ed.), Volunteers and volunteering, Federation Press, Leichhardt, NSW, pp. 19 - 31
    Book Chapters | 1998
    Pusey M, 1998, 'Economic rationalism, human rights and civil society', in Jones M; Kriesler P (ed.), Globalisation, human rights and civil society, Prospect Media, St Leonards, NSW, pp. 167 - 189
    Book Chapters | 1998
    Pusey MR, 1998, 'Between economic dissolution and the return of the social: The contest for civil society in Australia', in Alexander JC (ed.), Real civil societies: Dilemmas of institutionalisation, Sage Publications, London, pp. 40 - 65
    Book Chapters | 1998
    Pusey MR, 1998, 'Economic rationalism', in Shafritz JM (ed.), The international encyclopedia of public policy, Westview Press, Boulder, CO, pp. 734 - 736
    Book Chapters | 1998
    Pusey MR, 1998, 'Incomes, standards of living and quality of life: Preliminary findings from the Middle Australia Project', in Eckersley R (ed.), Measuring progress: Is life getting better?, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Vic, pp. 183 - 197
    Book Chapters | 1996
    Pusey MR, 1996, 'The impact of economic ideas on public policy in Australia', in Argyrous G; Stilwell F (ed.), Economics as a social science: Readings in political economy, Pluto Press, Marrickville, NSW, pp. 228 - 231
    Book Chapters | 1995
    Pusey M, 1995, 'Our top public servants under Hawke', in Lovell DW; McAllister I; Maley W; Kukathas C (ed.), The Australian political system, Longman, Melbourne, pp. 352 - 362
    Book Chapters | 1993
    Pusey M, 1993, 'Reclaiming the middle ground... From new right economic rationalism', in King S; Lloyd PJ (ed.), Economic rationalism: Dead-end or way forward?, Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, NSW, pp. 12 - 28
    Book Chapters | 1991
    Pusey M, 1991, 'The impact of economic ideas on public policy in Canberra', in Johnson MR; Kriesler P; Owen A (ed.), Contemporary issues in Australian economics, Economic Society of Australia, Crows Nest, NSW
    Book Chapters | 1991
    Pusey M, 1991, 'The quest for social democracy in Australia: What has changed in Canberra?', in Daniel A (ed.), Social democracy and the social sciences: Essays in honour of Sol Encel, Longman Cheshire, South Melbourne, VIC
    Book Chapters | 1988
    Pusey M, 1988, 'State and polity', in Najman JM; Western JS (ed.), A sociology of Australian society: Introductory readings, Macmillan, South Melbourne, VIC, pp. 22 - 49
    Book Chapters | 1987
    Pusey M, 1987, 'Jurgen Habermas: Reason and the evolution of culture', in Austin-Broos DJ (ed.), Creating culture: Profiles in the study of culture, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, pp. 194 - 210
    Book Chapters | 1983
    Pusey M, 1983, 'The control and rationalization of schooling', in Browne RK; Foster LE (ed.), Sociology of education, MacMillan Co. of Australia, South Melbourne, VIC, pp. 401 - 410
    Book Chapters | 1979
    Pusey M; Young RE, 1979, 'Introduction', in Pusey M; Young RE (ed.), Control and knowledge: The mediation of power in institutional and educational settings, Education Research Unit, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, pp. 1 - 25
    Book Chapters | 1975
    Pusey M, 1975, 'Internal organisation', in Anderson DS (ed.), Regional colleges: A study of non-metropolitan colleges of advanced education in Australia, Education Research Unit, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, pp. 177 - 196
    Book Chapters | 1975
    Pusey M, 1975, 'The administrative context', in Anderson DS (ed.), Regional colleges: A study of non-metropolitan colleges of advanced education in Australia, Education Research Unit, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, pp. 28 - 57
  • Edited Books | 1979
    Pusey M; Young RE, (ed.), 1979, Control and knowledge: The mediation of power in institutional and educational settings, Education Research Unit, Research School of Social Sciences, A.N.U., Canberra
  • Journal articles | 2018
    Barnes T; Humphrys E; Pusey M, 2018, 'From economic rationalism to global neoliberalism? Marking 25 years since Economic Rationalism in Canberra', Journal of Sociology, 54, pp. 3 - 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1440783318759082
    Journal articles | 2018
    Pusey M, 2018, 'Economic rationalism in Canberra 25 years on?', Journal of Sociology, 54, pp. 12 - 17, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1440783318759086
    Journal articles | 2011
    Pusey M; McCutcheon M, 2011, 'From the media moguls to the money men? Media concentration in Australia', Media International Australia, pp. 22 - 34, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1329878x1114000106
    Journal articles | 2010
    Jones PK; Pusey MR, 2010, 'Political communication & 'media system': The Australian canary.', Media Culture and Society, 32, pp. 451 - 471, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0163443709361172
    Journal articles | 2010
    Pusey MR, 2010, 'The struggles of public intellectuals in Australia: What do they tell us about contemporary Australia and the Australian ‘political public sphere’?', Thesis Eleven, pp. 81 - 88, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0725513609360615
    Journal articles | 2008
    Jones PK; Pusey MR, 2008, 'Mediated political communication in Australia: Leading issues, new evidence', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 43, pp. 583 - 599, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.1839-4655.2008.tb00120.x
    Journal articles | 2007
    Pusey MR, 2007, 'The changing relationship between the generations....It could even be good news?', Youth Studies Australia, 26, pp. 9 - 16
    Journal articles | 2003
    Pusey M, 2003, 'An Australian story: The troubling experience of economic reform', Papers on Parliament, 40, https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/%20/%20/link.aspx?_id=6F7B19F24405402F8F8880A57A4A5C83&_z=z
    Journal articles | 2003
    Pusey MR, 2003, 'Bad Company [Correspondence]', Quarterly Essay: Whitefella Jump Up, pp. 96 - 100
    Journal articles | 1998
    Pusey M, 1998, 'Women & families: The impact of economic restructuring on women and families: Preliminary findings from the Middle Australia project', The Australian quarterly, 70, pp. 18 - 27, https://www.jstor.org/stable/20637747
    Journal articles | 1998
    Pusey MR, 1998, 'Australia: Once the lighthouse of social democracy of the world. The impact of recent economic reforms', Thesis Eleven, 55, pp. 41 - 59, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0725513698055000004
    Journal articles | 1998
    Pusey MR, 1998, 'Economic rationalism, human rights and civil society', Australian Journal of Human Rights, pp. 131 - 152, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1323238X.1998.11911005
    Journal articles | 1998
    Pusey MR, 1998, 'Women and families and economic change', Australian Quarterly, pp. 18 - 27
    Journal articles | 1997
    Pusey MR, 1997, 'Inside the minds of middle Australia', Australian Quarterly, 69, pp. 14 - 21, http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/20637693
    Journal articles | 1996
    Pusey MR, 1996, 'Economic rationalism and the contest of civil society', Thesis Eleven, 44, pp. 69 - 87, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0725513696001044008
    Journal articles | 1995
    Pusey MR, 1995, 'Economic rationalism with a vengeance', Journal of Australian Political Economy, pp. 114 - 121
    Journal articles | 1994
    Pusey M, 1994, 'Reviews: Peter Beilharz, Mark Considine and Rob Watts, Arguing about the Welfare State: The Australian Experience (Allen and Unwin, 1992)', Thesis Eleven, 38, pp. 190 - 193, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/072551369403800118
    Journal articles | 1993
    Pusey M, 1993, 'Reflections on the impact of economic rationalism in Canberra', Journal of Sociology, 29, pp. 379 - 386, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/144078339302900308
    Journal articles | 1990
    Pusey M, 1990, 'The impact of economic ideas on public policy in Canberra?', Economic Papers: a journal of applied economics and policy, 9, pp. 80 - 90, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1759-3441.1990.tb00622.x
    Journal articles | 1988
    Pusey M, 1988, 'Our top Canberra public servants under Hawke', The Australian quarterly, 60, pp. 109 - 122, https://www.jstor.org/stable/41317992
    Journal articles | 1984
    Pusey M, 1984, 'Rationality, organizations, and language towards a critical theory of bureaucracy', Thesis Eleven: critical theory and historical sociology, 10/11, pp. 89 - 109, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/072551368501000108
    Journal articles | 1981
    Pusey M, 1981, 'How will governments strive to control education in the 1980s?', Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 1, pp. 9 - 17, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0159630810010202
    Journal articles | 1981
    Pusey M, 1981, 'The Control of Education in the 1980s', Politics, 16, pp. 223 - 234, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00323268108401802
    Journal articles | 1980
    Pusey M, 1980, 'The Legitimation of State Education Systems', Journal of Sociology, 16, pp. 45 - 52, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/144078338001600210
  • Conference Papers | 2000
    Pusey MR; Turnbull NJ; Wilson S, 2000, 'Redistribution after the wage earners` welfare state: support for redistribution, economic reform and institutional restructuring in the new Australia', in Oakley S; Pudsey J; Henderson J; King D; Boyd R (eds.), TASA 2000 Conference, Adelaide, Sth Aust, pp. 130 - 130, presented at TASA 2000 Conference, Adelaide, Sth Aust, 06 December 2000 - 08 December 2000
    Reports | 1998
    Wrennall L; Pusey MR, 1998, Getting the Best: A Review of Merit Selection in the New South Wales Public Sector, Source Report March 1998, Office of the Director of Equal Opportunity in Pub, Sydney
    Reports | 1981
    Pusey M, 1981, The limits and possibilities of structural change
    Reports | 1980
    Pusey M, 1980, The key issues for education policy in the 1980s
    Reports | 1976
    Pusey M, 1976, Towards a wider logic of educational innovation