Verity Burgmann
Encyclopedia
Verity Burgmann is Professor of Political Science at the University of Melbourne
.
Burgmann was born in Sydney
, Australia, the daughter of Victor Burgmann and Lorna Bradbury. In 1971 she ran away from home to attend the London School of Economics
, where she completed a B.Sc (Econ) with a major in politics. In 1980 she completed her Ph.D, Revolutionaries and Racists: Australian Socialism and the Problem of Racism, at the Australian National University
.
During the 1970's, Burgmann became actively involved in 'radical' politics, most notably the anti-apartheid campaign, and the campaign for aboriginal land rights. In 1971, along with her sister Meredith
, she was ejected from the Sydney Cricket Ground
after disrupting play during the controversial 1971 Springbok tour
of Australia. Burgmann's activism continued during her time in the United Kingdom, where she devoted her efforts to the International Socialists and the Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
.
She lived with Peter Hain
, who was then leading the STST (Stop The Seventy Tour) campaign in Britain against the visits of racially selected sporting teams from South Africa. Upon returning to Australia, Burgmann became involved with Women Behind Bars (in support of female prisoners), gay and lesbian rights (she is a veteran of the first mardi gras march in 1978), and after moving to Melbourne in the early 1980s, People for Nuclear Disarmament.
During the 1990 federal election campaign, opposition leader Andrew Peacock
visited her sons' creche for a photo opportunity where Burgmann greeted him with her middle son on her hip, holding a children's blackboard reading: "I don't want Mr Peacock to kiss my baby." The focus of Burgmann's recent activism has been the defence of public education (she is on the executive of the Public Education Group) and trade unionism.
and the University of Sydney
, before moving to the Political Science Department at the University of Melbourne in 1981. In 2003, she was appointed to her current position, Professor of Political Science. Burgmann was Deputy Dean of the Arts faculty at the University of Melbourne
between 2004 and 2006.
Burgmann's research interests are the history and politics of the Australian labour movement
, radical political ideologies, contemporary protest movements, environmental politics, racism
, anti-globalization
and anti-corporate politics. She has established a significant reputation both as a labour historian and as a political scientist of social movements and social change.
Verity Burgmann married Andrew Milner
, Australian cultural theorist and literary critic, in 1977. They have three sons.
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
.
Burgmann was born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia, the daughter of Victor Burgmann and Lorna Bradbury. In 1971 she ran away from home to attend the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, where she completed a B.Sc (Econ) with a major in politics. In 1980 she completed her Ph.D, Revolutionaries and Racists: Australian Socialism and the Problem of Racism, at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
.
During the 1970's, Burgmann became actively involved in 'radical' politics, most notably the anti-apartheid campaign, and the campaign for aboriginal land rights. In 1971, along with her sister Meredith
Meredith Burgmann
Meredith Anne Burgmann is an Australian politician and Australian Labor Party member and a former President of the New South Wales Legislative Council.-Early years:...
, she was ejected from the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
after disrupting play during the controversial 1971 Springbok tour
1971 Springbok tour
The 1971 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia was a controversial six-week rugby union tour by the South African national team to Australia. Anti-apartheid protests came to being all around the country. The tour is perhaps most infamous for a state of emergency being declared in Queensland...
of Australia. Burgmann's activism continued during her time in the United Kingdom, where she devoted her efforts to the International Socialists and the Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
.
She lived with Peter Hain
Peter Hain
Peter Gerald Hain is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for the Welsh constituency of Neath since 1991, and has served in the Cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, firstly as Leader of the House of Commons under Blair and both Secretary of State for...
, who was then leading the STST (Stop The Seventy Tour) campaign in Britain against the visits of racially selected sporting teams from South Africa. Upon returning to Australia, Burgmann became involved with Women Behind Bars (in support of female prisoners), gay and lesbian rights (she is a veteran of the first mardi gras march in 1978), and after moving to Melbourne in the early 1980s, People for Nuclear Disarmament.
During the 1990 federal election campaign, opposition leader Andrew Peacock
Andrew Peacock
Andrew Sharp Peacock AC, GCL , is a former Australian Liberal politician. He was a minister in the Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments, and was federal leader of the Liberal Party of Australia 1983–1985 and 1989–1990...
visited her sons' creche for a photo opportunity where Burgmann greeted him with her middle son on her hip, holding a children's blackboard reading: "I don't want Mr Peacock to kiss my baby." The focus of Burgmann's recent activism has been the defence of public education (she is on the executive of the Public Education Group) and trade unionism.
Career
Verity Burgmann began her academic career teaching British Government at South London College in 1975. Between 1978 and 1980 Burgmann worked at both the University of New South WalesUniversity of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, before moving to the Political Science Department at the University of Melbourne in 1981. In 2003, she was appointed to her current position, Professor of Political Science. Burgmann was Deputy Dean of the Arts faculty at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
between 2004 and 2006.
Burgmann's research interests are the history and politics of the Australian labour movement
Australian labour movement
The Australian labour movement has its origins in the early 19th century and includes both trade unions and political activity. At its broadest, the movement can be defined as encompassing the industrial wing, the unions in Australia, and the political wing, the Australian Labor Party and minor...
, radical political ideologies, contemporary protest movements, environmental politics, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, anti-globalization
Anti-globalization
Criticism of globalization is skepticism of the claimed benefits of the globalization of capitalism. Many of these views are held by the anti-globalization movement however other groups also are critical of the policies of globalization....
and anti-corporate politics. She has established a significant reputation both as a labour historian and as a political scientist of social movements and social change.
Verity Burgmann married Andrew Milner
Andrew Milner
Andrew Milner , Australian cultural theorist and literary critic, is Professor of Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies at Monash University....
, Australian cultural theorist and literary critic, in 1977. They have three sons.
Selected writings
- Power, Profit & Protest: Australian Social Movements and GlobalisationPower, Profit and ProtestPower, Profit and Protest: Australian Social Movements and Globalisation is a 2003 book by Verity Burgmann. The book was originally published in 1993, and the 2003 edition is substantially expanded. There is a new chapter on "social movements and social change", and another on the "anti-corporate...
, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2003.
- (with Meredith Burgmann) Green Bans, Red Union: Environmental Activism and the New South Wales Builders Labourers’ Federation, University of NSW Press, Sydney, 1998.
- Revolutionary Industrial Unionism. The Industrial Workers of the World in Australia, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne, 1995.
- Power and Protest. Movements for Change in Australian Society, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1993.
- In Our Time: Socialism and the Rise of Labor, 1885-1905, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1985.
Edited works
- Verity Burgmann and Jenny Lee, Staining the Wattle, A People’s History of Australia since 1788, McPhee Gribble/Penguin, Melbourne, 1988.
- Verity Burgmann and Jenny Lee, Constructing a Culture, A People’s History of Australia since 1788, McPhee Gribble/Penguin, Melbourne, 1988.
- Verity Burgmann and Jenny Lee, Making a Life, A People’s History of Australia since 1788, McPhee Gribble/Penguin, Melbourne, 1988.
- Verity Burgmann and Jenny Lee, A Most Valuable Acquisition, A People’s History of Australia since 1788, McPhee Gribble/Penguin, Melbourne, 1988.