Book set to ignite political discussion in NZ
Published by Communications and Development
17 June 2009
Canterbury University Press will launch a book next week which promises to ignite political discussion in New Zealand.
In the Public Interest, edited by Professor Mark Francis and Associate Professor Jim Tully (Social and Political Sciences), is a collection of essays written in honour of the late Emeritus Professor Keith Jackson addressing the topic of the public interest in New Zealand.
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| In the Public Interest editors Professor Mark Francis (left) and Associate Professor Jim Tully. |
Professor Jackson, who died in August 2007, was a Professor of Political Science at the University of Canterbury from 1967 to 1994, and head of department from 1967 to 1980. He was election night planning consultant and election night analyst for Radio New Zealand from 1975 to 1990; political commentator for the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand and Television New Zealand from 1957 to 1994; and authored/edited nine books.
In August 2006 the then School of Political Science and Communication hosted a Public Interest Conference to honour the influential political scientist and the papers delivered at that conference by Professor Jackson’s colleagues, former students, protégés and friends inspired this newly published festschrift.
The essays – by major scholars in fields such as parliamentary studies, electoral studies, law reform and communication – reflect Professor Jackson’s own preoccupations with institutional politics and with news media.
Professor Francis said the book fills a gap on the subject of “public interest”.
“Like ‘the public good’, ‘the public interest’ has become more contestable as New Zealand moves further away from its reliance upon state ownership. Since Professor Jackson was noted for his political neutrality in both his academic publications and in his broadcasting, this volume seemed to be the appropriate venue for a re-consideration of the subject.”
Professor Francis said while the main audiences for the book would be politicians, policy-makers, broadcasters and students of political science, the contributing authors were encouraged to write so as to appeal to the general public “because the subject matter of this volume needs to be debated by New Zealand citizens”.
Professor Francis said there had been no books written on New Zealand politics for a number of years which made the book a “must have”. He believes In the Public Interest has the potential to be controversial and “generate spirited academic debate about politics in this country”.
In the Public Interest will be launched at the University Bookshop (UBS) on Thursday 25 June.
- In the Public Interest: Essays in Honour of Professor Keith Jackson, edited by Mark Francis and Jim Tully, published by Canterbury University Press, June 2009, RRP NZ$39.95, Paperback, 256 pp, ISBN 978-1-877257-83-4.
For further information please contact:
Maria De Cort
Publicist
Canterbury University Press
c/-Communications & Development
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
Tel: +64 3 364 2072
Fax: +64 3 364 2679
maria.decort@canterbury.ac.nz