Australia in the Age of International Development, 1945–1975

Nicholas Ferns is a Teaching and Research Associate at Monash University, Australia. His research has been published in Australian and international journals, including The Australian Journal of Politics and History and Diplomacy and Statecraft.

• Introduction.- 1. “Stone Age to the Twentieth Century”: Trusteeship and the New Deal for Papua New Guinea, 1945-1949.- 2. “By Every Means in Our Power”: The Establishment of the Colombo Plan, 1949-1957.- 3. “New Codes and a New Order”: Papua New Guinean Development in the Hasluck Era, 1951-63.- 4. “Developed, Developing, or Midway?” Australia at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 1964.- 5. “We Should Be Doing More Than We Are”: The Colombo Plan, Papua New Guinea, and the Australian External Aid Review, 1957-1965.- 6. Taking up the “Latest Fashions”: International Development in Flux and the Australian Response, 1965-1975.- Conclusion.

“Ferns’ book … presents an insightful and thoroughly documented assessment of this important topic. … he examines how Australian policy over these years was both consistent and flexible as politicians, bureaucrats, and academics responded and adapted to changing international conditions and intellectual trends. … Ferns’ familiarity with the literature of development, economics, and international relations is strongly evident throughout his book and provides his analysis with a solid knowledge base. … Ferns’ book is nonetheless a timely and necessary contribution to our understanding of Australian political history.” (Jonathan Ritchie, History Australia, August 16, 2021)