THE HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY RESEARCH AGENDA

Substantial opportunities exist for social scientists, humanists practitioners, and other scholars to contribute to research on higher education policy. Not only is the university or college an interesting study objective itself but also with higher education in the United States and worldwide so immersed in public policy considerations, the relations between academe and government raise many political, economic and other Questions. Some issues currently on the research agenda are listed here. The consequences of higher education policy research are also considered.     

Reviews

GOEBBELS AND NATIONAL SOCIALIST PROPAGANDA 1925–1945. Ernest K. Bramsted. London, The Cresset Press; East Lansing, Michigan State University Press, 1965, Pp. xxxvii + 488. $12.50 (U.S.).

AUSTRIA, GERMANY, AND THE ANSCHLUSS, 1931–38; Jürgen Gehl. London, Oxford University Press, 1963. Pp. x + 212. 49/9d. (Australian).

RUSSIA AFTER KHRUSHCHEV. Robert Conquest. London, Pall Mall, 1965. Pp. 267. $6.60 Australian.

BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN. J. S. Roucek and K. V. Lottich. Caxton Press, Caldwell (Idaho, U.S.A.), 1964. Pp. 631. $8.95 (U.S.).

EAST WEST TRADE. A SYMPOSIUM. Philip E. Uren (ed.). Toronto, Canadian Institute of International Affairs, 1966. Pp. 181. Hard cover, $3.00. Paperback, $2.00 (Canadian).

SOUTHEAST ASIA'S SECOND FRONT. THE POWER STRUGGLE IN THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. Arnold Brackman. New York, Frederick A. Praeger, Inc., 1966. Pp. xv + 341. $7.00 (Australian).

THE DIMENSIONS OF CONFLICT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. Bernard K. Gordon. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice‐Hall, Inc., 1966. Pp. xiv + 201. $2.70 (Australian).

FUNDAMENTALS OF GUERILLA WARFARE. Abdul Haris Nosution. London, Pall Mall Press, 1965. Pp. 324. $4.25 (Australian).

FROM ENMITY TO ALLIANCE. U.S.‐AUSTRALIAN RELATIONS, 1931–1941. Raymond A. Esthus. Melbourne University Press, 1965. Pp. xii + 180. 45/‐ Australian.

AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN. HERBERT BROOKES 1867–1963. Rohan Rivett. Melbourne University Press. London and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1965. Pp. xiv + 218. 65/‐ Australian.

AUSTRALIA AND THE MONARCHY. A SYMPOSIUM. Geoffrey Dutton (ed.). Melbourne, Sun Books, 1966. Pp. 182. $1.00 Australian.

CANADA'S ROLE AS A MIDDLE POWER. J. King Gordon (ed.). Contemporary Affairs Series No. 35, Toronto, The Canadian Institute of International Affairs, 1966. Pp. xiv + 212. Can. $3.50 hard cover, $2.00 paperback.     

Rationalising parliamentary systems

Public Choice analysis of democratic political institutions focuses on the issues that are most salient under US constitutional arrangements. Parliamentary systems offer different institutional arrangements and different challenges to the Public Choice approach. We outline a Public Choice account of parliamentary democracy which concentrates attention on the roles of electoral competition and disciplined political parties, while also offering a discussion of parliamentary procedure. The Public Choice approach is contrasted with the mainstream view of representative, responsible government in which disciplined political parties are often seen as a threat to parliamentary democracy.     

Islamisation and politics in Sudan

Sudan achieved an Islamic revolution recently without violence. Through a ‘creeping’ revolution that started in the 1970s, Islamic fundamentalists have consolidated their power through wealth and systematic control of the civil service, the economy, the judiciary and the armed forces. The fact that the major political parties in northern Sudan, except the Communist Party, have been affiliated to religious sects does not mean all Muslims support the Sharia. Fundamentalists comprise 20% of Sudan's Muslim population, but they are richer, better organised and more highly motivated. The implementation of the Sharia has been accompanied by the entrenchment of dictatorial rule, a weakening of institutions, the erosion of civil liberties, the aggravation of the civil war in southern Sudan and an ever‐worsening economic malaise. The revolution has also caused apprehension in Washington and some African and Arab states, but there is as yet no evidence that Sudan poses a direct threat to its neighbours.