Barry Gustafson
Encyclopedia
Barry Gustafson is a New Zealand
political scientist and historian
, and a leading political biographer. He served for nearly four decades as Professor of Political Studies at the University of Auckland
, and as Acting Director of the New Zealand Asia Institute from 2004 to 2006.
and Glasgow Universities (BA 1960, MA 1962, PhD 1974). He stood twice as a Labour Party candidate, in 1960 and 1966, and served as a member from 1954 to 1981. In 1968 he joined the staff at Auckland University, and during his long tenure at Auckland he has authored several leading books on the topic of New Zealand politics. He wrote Social Change and Party Reorganisation (1976) and Labour’ s Path to Political Independence (1980) while still a Labour Party member, but after completing The First 50 Years: A History of the New Zealand National Party
(1986) changed allegiance to National. In 1986 he also published From the Cradle to the Grave: A Biography of Michael Joseph Savage
.
In 1987
he stood as a National
candidate for the Birkenhead electorate
to replace the retiring Jim McLay
, but was defeated by the Labour
candidate, Jenny Kirk.
During the 1990s Gustafson was given a number of international academic appointments, including visiting researcher at Stanford University and the European Union in 1990, and research at a number of American
and British
Universities in 1994. In 1997 Gustafson was Fulbright Visiting Professor
at Georgetown University
. From 1998 to 2002 Gustafson was appointed Head of the Political Studies Department, and he was also Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) of the University from 2001 to 2002. In 2000 he published His Way: A Biography of Robert Muldoon
.
Gustafson's teaching interests are predominantly the European Union
, civil society
, the development of New Zealand’s political culture and parties, political leadership and power, and interdisciplinary studies. For 25 years he also taught Soviet and East European Studies.
In 2004 Gustafson retired as Professor of Political Studies, and was appointed Acting Director of the New Zealand Asia Institute, a position he held until 2006. In this time he helped to establish a New Zealand Studies
Centre at Peking University
. In 2007 he published Kiwi Keith: A Biography of Keith Holyoake
.
(Tamaki
1992 - 1997), and Associate Dean of Arts (Research 2000). He chaired the Advisory Committee to the School of European Languages and Literatures from 1999 to 2001, and was a member of the Board and Management Committee of the New Zealand Asia Institute, 2001-2002.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
political scientist and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, and a leading political biographer. He served for nearly four decades as Professor of Political Studies at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
, and as Acting Director of the New Zealand Asia Institute from 2004 to 2006.
Politics and academia
Barry Selwyn Gustafson was born in Auckland in 1938. He was educated at Auckland, MasseyMassey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
and Glasgow Universities (BA 1960, MA 1962, PhD 1974). He stood twice as a Labour Party candidate, in 1960 and 1966, and served as a member from 1954 to 1981. In 1968 he joined the staff at Auckland University, and during his long tenure at Auckland he has authored several leading books on the topic of New Zealand politics. He wrote Social Change and Party Reorganisation (1976) and Labour’ s Path to Political Independence (1980) while still a Labour Party member, but after completing The First 50 Years: A History of the New Zealand National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
(1986) changed allegiance to National. In 1986 he also published From the Cradle to the Grave: A Biography of Michael Joseph Savage
Michael Joseph Savage
Michael Joseph Savage was the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand.- Early life :Born in Tatong, Victoria, Australia, Savage first became involved in politics while working in that state. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1907. There he worked in a variety of jobs, as a miner, flax-cutter and...
.
In 1987
New Zealand general election, 1987
The 1987 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 43rd sitting of the New Zealand Parliament. The governing New Zealand Labour Party, led by Prime Minister David Lange, was re-elected for a second term, although the Opposition National Party made gains...
he stood as a National
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
candidate for the Birkenhead electorate
Birkenhead (New Zealand electorate)
Birkenhead was a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, from 1969 to 1996.-Population Centres:This suburban electorate is on the North Shore of Auckland.-History:...
to replace the retiring Jim McLay
Jim McLay
James Kenneth McLay, CNZM, QSO , generally known as Jim McLay, is a former New Zealand politician. He was Deputy Prime Minister, leader of the National Party and Leader of the Opposition for a short time. McLay is currently New Zealand's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.-Early...
, but was defeated by the Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
candidate, Jenny Kirk.
During the 1990s Gustafson was given a number of international academic appointments, including visiting researcher at Stanford University and the European Union in 1990, and research at a number of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Universities in 1994. In 1997 Gustafson was Fulbright Visiting Professor
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. From 1998 to 2002 Gustafson was appointed Head of the Political Studies Department, and he was also Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) of the University from 2001 to 2002. In 2000 he published His Way: A Biography of Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
.
Gustafson's teaching interests are predominantly the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
, the development of New Zealand’s political culture and parties, political leadership and power, and interdisciplinary studies. For 25 years he also taught Soviet and East European Studies.
In 2004 Gustafson retired as Professor of Political Studies, and was appointed Acting Director of the New Zealand Asia Institute, a position he held until 2006. In this time he helped to establish a New Zealand Studies
New Zealand studies
New Zealand studies is the academic field of Area studies of New Zealand.Subfields:*History of New Zealand*Literature of New Zealand*Politics of New Zealand*Economy of New Zealand*Culture of New ZealandInstitutions in New Zealand:...
Centre at Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
. In 2007 he published Kiwi Keith: A Biography of Keith Holyoake
Keith Holyoake
Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ was a New Zealand politician. The only person to have been both Prime Minister and Governor-General of New Zealand, Holyoake was National Party Prime Minister from 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957, then again from 12 December 1960 to 7...
.
Committee work
Gustafson has also served as Chairman of the Council of the Auckland College of EducationAuckland College of Education
Auckland College of Education was a college of education located in Auckland, New Zealand. On 1 September 2004 it amalgamated with the University of Auckland and formed a new Faculty of Education with the university’s School of Education.-History:...
(Tamaki
Tamaki
Tamaki may refer to:Places:*Afghanistan**Tamaki, Afghanistan*Japan**Tamaki, Mie*New Zealand**Tamaki, New Zealand, a suburb of Auckland**Tāmaki , in Auckland**East Tamaki, a suburb of Auckland**Tamaki River, in Auckland...
1992 - 1997), and Associate Dean of Arts (Research 2000). He chaired the Advisory Committee to the School of European Languages and Literatures from 1999 to 2001, and was a member of the Board and Management Committee of the New Zealand Asia Institute, 2001-2002.
Works
- Continuing transformation: the structure, composition, and functioning of the New Zealand Labour Party in the Auckland region, 1949-70 (1973). PhD thesis
- Social Change and Party Reorganisation (1976)
- Labour’ s Path to Political Independence (1980)
- The First 50 Years: A History of the New Zealand National PartyNew Zealand National PartyThe New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
(1986) - From the Cradle to the Grave: A Biography of Michael Joseph SavageMichael Joseph SavageMichael Joseph Savage was the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand.- Early life :Born in Tatong, Victoria, Australia, Savage first became involved in politics while working in that state. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1907. There he worked in a variety of jobs, as a miner, flax-cutter and...
(1986) - His Way: A Biography of Robert MuldoonRobert MuldoonSir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
(2000) - Kiwi Keith: A Biography of Keith HolyoakeKeith HolyoakeSir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ was a New Zealand politician. The only person to have been both Prime Minister and Governor-General of New Zealand, Holyoake was National Party Prime Minister from 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957, then again from 12 December 1960 to 7...
(2007)