The Curiosity Lecture series returns to the Festival with a line-up of our most thought-provoking speakers delivering one-time talks on topics of intrigue, interest and importance. Hear from author and history professor James Curran as he examines the future of Australia’s relationship with China. Drawing insight from his book Australia’s China Odyssey: From euphoria to fear, James looks through the prism of prime ministers who have handled relations with Beijing since Whitlam, exploring the tectonic forces of history beneath our foreign affairs and what current debates around government policy reveal about us as a nation.  

Supported by UNSW Sydney.

James Curran (Australian)

James Curran

James Curran is Professor of Modern History at the University of Sydney. A former analyst with the Office of National Assessments, he was also a Fulbright Scholar at Georgetown University in Washington DC and later the Chair of Australian History at University College Dublin. James writes a fortnightly column on foreign affairs for The Australian Financial Review (AFR) and from mid year will take up a position as contributing Foreign Editor at the AFR. His latest book is Australia's China Odyssey: From Euphoria to Fear and he is commencing work now on a study of former Prime Minister Paul Keating's foreign policy.