Polarisation, Partisanship and Noel Pearsonns Quest for the Radical Centre

Abstract

The Aboriginal lawyer and social reformer Noel Pearson is one of Australia’s most prominent and influential public intellectuals. This paper examines an aspect of his political thought which has received little scholarly attention: the ‘quest for a radical centre’’. It is argued that the ‘radical centre’ is best understood as an ethic of partisanship rather than a position on the ideological spectrum. At the core of this ethic is the willingness to compromise with adversaries. Pearson’s presentation of himself as a centrist is explored in light of his strategic pursuit of Indigenous welfare reform, and especially his contribution to the public debate over the introduction of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Intervention by the Howard Government in 2007.