Monthly Archives: November 2005

On the Future Of the Sociology Profession in New Zealand

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Response to Paul Spoonley’s Paper, SAANZ conference, 27 November 2005

Keywords: History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy;

Let me begin by saying that while I welcome Paul’s paper, it suffers from a major deficiency when it claims that sociology should be a core social science discipline, but does not define the subject. When I was at the University of Sussex, the social sciences scrapped vigorously between themselves as to their importance and their relationships. Sociology was one, but even a subject led by Tom Bottomore had difficulties defining what was its core. My observation of New Zealand sociology – say characterised by the subject of papers at this conference – is that it would have considerable difficulties defining a core here too: defining the minimum that a graduate sociologist should know. I may be wrong, but to the outsider sociology often seems social studies, which is a subject, not a discipline.

The Social Critic in New Zealand

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Keynote address to the 2005 Conference of the Sociology Association of Aotearoa New Zealand, 25 November, The Eastern Institute of Technology, Napier. [1]

Keywords: History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; Political Economy & History;

In Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, the tramps abuse one another: ‘Moron!’, ‘Vermin!’, ‘Abortion!’, “Louse!’, ‘Sewer-rat!’, ‘Curate!’. Then Estragon says with finality ‘Critic!’. All Vladimir can reply is ‘Oh!’. The text says ‘He wilts, vanquished and turns away’.

Business Vision: How to Get Government and Business to Work Together?

This entry was posted in Business & Finance, Listener, Political Economy & History on by .

Listener: 19 November, 2005.

Keywords: Business & Finance; Political Economy & History;

One might think there is a standoff between government and business. A fortnight before the election, a Business Herald “Mood of the Boardroom” feature showed that many chief executives were antipathetic towards the Labour-led government and willing to say so in public. The impression was reinforced by leaks showing that business and a business lobby group had been involved in the making of Don Brash, leader of the National Party.

Goals & Values:bruce Jesson Was Not Just a Journalist, but a Political Economist

This entry was posted in Listener, Political Economy & History on by .

Listener: 5 November, 2995.

Keywords: Political Economy & History;

Once upon a time, economics was “political economy”. It was not only interested in the technical issues of how the economy worked but also its impact on politics and society (assuming they can be distinguished). David Ricardo (1772-1823), for instance, developed a theory about rents on lands, wages and profits, because they were the foundations of the power of landlords, capitalists and workers.

New Zealand’s Pharmaceutical Policies: a Fresh Look

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This report, commissioned by Pharmac, reviews the report by Castalia Strategic Advisers New Zealand Pharmaceutical Policies: Time to Take a Fresh Look.   Keywords: Health;   INTRODUCTION   In August 2005, Castalia Strategic Advisers, published a report New Zealand Pharmaceutical Policies: Time to Take a Fresh Look. The report was commissioned by Pfizer New Zealand…
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The Rough Drafts Of History

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‘Writing the Recent Past’: A New Zealand Book Council Seminar, 1 November, 2005.

Keywords: History of Ideas, Methodology & Philosophy; Political Economy & History;

Let me begin by saying that although I am not a trained historian – two courses in economic history being my total at university – I read history for pleasure, I use history in my research and writing, and I recommend students do history to broaden their perspectives. However, today we are talking about contemporary history, which comes out from another profession.