Congratulations to James Jupp, Visiting Fellow in the ANU School of Demography, on the publication of his new book, 'An Immigrant Nation Seeks Cohesion: Australia from 1788'.

The book seeks to get a little bit closer to the truth of two hundred years of creating a liveable society in what was once a remote and unknown part of the world. It is based on years of studying and teaching Australian politics and an active interest and involvement by the author in immigration and settlement policies since the 1950s.

'An Immigrant Nation Seeks Cohesion' presents Australian traditions, myths and legends in an understanding but often critical light in the belief that such devices have often been used by interested parties and even governments to maintain social solidarity and to mould a very complex people into a coherent and obedient whole.

James Jupp was born and educated in the UK. His Doctorate of Philosophy, on the political development of Sri Lanka, was granted by the University of London in 1975 and published as Sri Lanka: Third World Democracy in 1978. He has published widely on immigration and multicultural affairs and is the author of several books and articles, the editor of three encyclopaedias and the co-editor of six books.