Meet the author - James Curran

James Curran will be in conversation with Frank Bongiorno on his new book Grand Ambition . Paul Keating’s Global Vision for Australia. 

Written with never-before-seen documents from Paul Keating’s archive and drawing on long conversations and interviews with him over many years, this book explores the ambitions for Australia and its place in the world that guided Keating: arguably the last Prime Minister with a compelling long-term vision for the country.

As Australia stands on the edge of the greatest reappraisal of its strategic circumstances, what is the relevance of Paul Keating’s vision for Australia in the world today?  At the moment of his political defeat in 1996, Paul Keating stood defiant, still arguing for a vision of Australia that reached far beyond the limits of electoral politics. Three decades on, this book revisits that vision: bold, contested and somewhat unravelled by subsequent Coalition governments.

Ambitious and provocative, this is both a portrait of a singular political mind and a reappraisal of a pivotal era. It argues that the questions Keating grappled with – about independence, security and identity – remain unresolved, and more urgent than ever in a world defined by rising tensions between the United States, China and the rest of the world.

James Curran FASSA, FAIIA is Professor of Modern History at the University of Sydney specialising in political and foreign relations history. He is also a foreign affairs columnist at the Australian Financial Review where he was International Editor from 2023–2025. In 2025, he delivered one of the ABC’s Boyer Lectures on Australia’s current strategic dilemma. Prior to joining Sydney University, James served in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Defence and at the Office of National Assessments.

Frank Bongiorno AM FRHistS FASSA FAHA is Donald Horne Professor of History and Public Ideas at the University of Canberra, Emeritus Professor of the Australian National University and President, Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS). His most recent book is Gold Standard? Remembering the Hawke government. Edited by Frank Bongiorno, Carolyn Holbrook and Joshua Black. (2026)

The vote of thanks will be given by Allan Behm, Senior Advisor International & Security Affairs Program at the Australia Institute.

Books will be available for signing from 5.30pm and again after the event.  

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A podcast will be made available after the event.