This comprehensive reference is the latest Australian addition to Oxford’s esteemed series of Companions. ‘Every Australian has a significant stake in our political system’, writes the editors. Politics shapes not just our government, but our society and the rules and ‘norms’ that govern it. A basic understanding of our political system, how it operates and how it evolved is invaluable – and is expertly delivered here. The Companion provides an accessible, authoritative introduction to Australian politics in the form of thematic essays by over 200 contributors on topics ranging from Aboriginal politics and the Accord, to globalisation and the Vietnam War. All the state premiers and prime ministers are covered, as well as the political theories and global organisations and events that have shaped us. This is a major contribution to Australian publishing, and a reference that will endure for years to come.