Indigenous peoples and the state

This unit examines histories of Indigenous policies and Aboriginal affairs through the twentieth century with an emphasis on the ongoing nature of Australian colonialism, the maintenance of power by non-Indigenous governments, and the treatment of Indigenous peoples through policies and governmental practice. It examines issues of colonialism, prejudice and racism, with particular emphasis on the continuities and discontinuities of discourses on 'race', assimilation and cultural difference in Australia, the representation of Indigenous people in the media and political discourse, and policies of multiculturalism and Indigenous people. The value of an interdisciplinary approach to these topics is highlighted.