
Dr John Tate
Senior Lecturer
Newcastle Business School (Politics)
- Email:john.tate@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4921 5067
Career Summary
Biography
I was appointed as the foundation lecturer in Politics at the University of Newcastle in August 1997. Since that time Politics has steadily grown to the point that, by 2014, we have five full time staff members. I teach across six different Politics subjects in areas such as Australian politics, international relations, political philosophy, Australian public policy, and the politics of globalisation. My primary research interest is in the areas of political philosophy and history of political thought, but I have also published in such areas as Australian Prime Ministers, Australian sovereignty and New Zealand native title. Regarding political philosophy I am particularly interested in the philosophy and practice of toleration, not least in terms of how it is negotiated and applied within the liberal tradition. Regarding history of political thought, I am interested in the foundations and development of the liberal tradition. At present, my work in this last area concerns the political philosophy of John Locke. My publications have appeared in a number of international journals including the American Journal of Political Science, Political Theory, Political Studies, European Journal of Political Theory, Philosophy and Social Criticism, Journal of European Studies and Telos, as well as national journals such as Australian Journal of Political Science and Australian Journal of Politics and History. In conjunction with Martin Drum from the University of Notre Dame, Western Australia, I have published a textbook on Australian politics for Australian university students - Martin Drum and John William Tate, "Politics in Australia" (South Yarra: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012). More recently, I have published a book on the late seventeenth century English philosopher, John Locke, showing his importance to the foundations of liberalism - John William Tate, "Liberty, Toleration and Equality. John Locke, Jonas Proast and the Letters Concerning Toleration" (New York: Routledge, 2016).
Research ExpertiseMy primary research expertise is in the area of political philosophy and history of political thought. Concerning political philosophy I am interested in toleration, free speech, and the extent to which liberal democracies ought to accommodate non-liberal values and practices. This question of the extent to which liberal democracies ought to accommodate such difference is a salient one within contemporary polities, given the rise of religious fundamentalism and other movements that do not embrace liberal values. I am also interested in the relationship between toleration and free speech, not least whether a tolerant society requires an expansion of, or limits upon, free speech. I am particularly interested in this question as it relates to events such as the Rushdie or Muhammad Cartoons Affair. Concerning the history of political thought, I am interested in the foundations and the development of the liberal tradition. Currently I am working on the political philosophy of the seventeenth century English philosopher, John Locke, who is widely recognised as one of the founding fathers of the liberal tradition, at least within the English-speaking world. But I am also interested in other major figures, influential on the development of liberal ideas, such as Voltaire and other thinkers prominent within the eighteenth century Enlightenment, as well as nineteenth century figures such as John Stuart Mill. I am interested in Australian government and politics, in particular, Australian Prime Ministers. I have published journal articles on Paul Keating and John Howard. I am also co-author of a textbook for Australian university students which focuses on Australian government and politics - Martin Drum and John William Tate, "Politics in Australia" (South Yarra: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012). Finally, I am interested in comparative government and politics, particularly regarding Australia, the United States and Britain. This concerns areas of constitutional law (particularly as this relates to free speech) and also questions of comparative sovereignty.
Teaching Expertise
I have had to cover a wide range of topics within Politics in my teaching career as from 1997 to 2005 there were only two Politics staff to teach the Politics major in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Science at the University of Newcastle. We therefore had to cover the entire major between us, as well as the fourth year Honours courses. The areas in which I have consistently taught courses since 1997 at the University of Newcastle are political theory, history of political thought, politics of globalisation, Australian politics, Introduction to Politics, Australian public policy and international relations. I also taught a course entitled Politics and Power in Asia for a number of years.
Administrative Expertise
Chair of the Faculty Library Committee for a number of years. Member of the Faculty Carbon Footprint Committee (chaired by Associate Professor Kala Saravanamuthu). Member of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee 2014-15. Head of Discipline in Politics & International Relations 2010-2012; Student Academic Conduct Officer (SACO) for the Newcastle Business School 2017- present.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Economics (Honours Class I), University of Sydney
Keywords
- Australian Politics and Government
- Australian Prime Ministers
- Australian Public Policy
- Foundations of Liberalism
- History of Political Thought
- International Relations
- Introduction to Politics
- New Zealand Native Title
- Political Philosophy
- Political Theory
- Politics of Globalisation
- State Sovereignty
- Toleration
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
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160609 | Political Theory and Political Philosophy | 80 |
160603 | Comparative Government and Politics | 10 |
160601 | Australian Government and Politics | 10 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
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Senior Lecturer | University of Newcastle Newcastle Business School Australia |
Academic appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department | |
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1/06/1997 - 1/08/1997 | Part-Time Lecturer | University of Wollongong School of History and Politics Australia |
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1/02/1997 - 1/06/1997 |
Casual Tutor
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University of Wollongong School of History and Politics Australia |
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1/02/1996 - 1/11/1996 | Casual Tutor | The University of New South Wales School of Politics Australia |
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1/02/1996 - 1/11/1997 | Casual Tutor | University of Western Sydney Department of Media and Cultural Studies (Nepean) Australia |
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1/02/1992 - 1/11/1992 | Casual Tutor | The University of New South Wales School of Politics Australia |
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1/02/1991 - 1/11/1994 | Casual Tutor | The University of New South Wales School of Liberal and General Studies Australia |
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1/02/1991 - 1/11/1995 | Casual Tutor | University of Wollongong School of History and Politics Australia |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Book (2 outputs)
Chapter (1 outputs)
Journal article (29 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2018 | Tate J, 'Bill Leak, Andrew Bolt and s 18C: Freedom of Speech and the Limits of Political Criticism in Australia', The Western Australian Jurist, 9 130-184 (2018) | |||||||
2017 | Tate J, 'The 'intent' of Section 44(i) of the Australian Constitution: a bit of history', Asia & the Pacific Policy Society Policy Forum, September 1-2 (2017) | |||||||
2017 |
Tate JW, 'Locke, toleration and natural law: A reassessment', European Journal of Political Theory, 16 109-121 (2017) [C1] © The Author(s) 2015. There is an increasingly prevalent view among some contemporary Locke scholars that Locke¿s political philosophy is thoroughly subordinate to theological imp... [more] © The Author(s) 2015. There is an increasingly prevalent view among some contemporary Locke scholars that Locke¿s political philosophy is thoroughly subordinate to theological imperatives, centered on natural law. This article challenges this point of view by critically evaluating this interpretation of Locke as advanced by some of its leading proponents. This interpretation perceives natural law as the governing principle of Locke¿s political philosophy, and the primary source of transition and reconciliation within it. This article advances a very different reading of Locke¿s political philosophy, perceiving within it competing imperatives that cannot be subsumed by natural law, and are, in some respects, at odds with it. In this way, the article shows how the ¿¿theological¿¿ interpretation of Locke¿s political philosophy, centred on natural law, fails to account for some of that philosophy¿s fundamental features, and is unable to explain some of its key outcomes, with the result that this interpretation falls short of its critical ambitions.
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2016 |
Tate JW, 'Free speech, toleration and equal respect: the Bolt affair in context', Australian Journal of Political Science, 51 34-50 (2016) [C1]
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2016 |
Tate JW, 'Toleration, Skepticism, and Blasphemy: John Locke, Jonas Proast, and Charlie Hebdo', American Journal of Political Science, 60 664-675 (2016) [C1] ©2016, Midwest Political Science Association As the recent Charlie Hebdo, Copenhagen café, and Garland, Texas, shootings show, religion has recently reemerged as a source of viole... [more] ©2016, Midwest Political Science Association As the recent Charlie Hebdo, Copenhagen café, and Garland, Texas, shootings show, religion has recently reemerged as a source of violence within liberal democracies, particularly in those instances where cases of alleged blasphemy are involved. Although toleration arose, within the liberal tradition, as a means of dealing with such conflict, some individuals, possessed of devout religious belief, when confronted with beliefs or practices profoundly at odds with their faith, cannot conceive of toleration as a possibility. In such situations, the demand that these individuals tolerate that to which their faith is at odds is likely to run up against a more personal and, for its adherents, eternal agenda. This article considers a way in which those with devout religious beliefs might tolerate that which is profoundly at odds with their faith, thereby providing a means to avoid violent outcomes such as those in the ¿extreme cases¿ above.
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2015 |
Tate JW, 'The introduction of Australian digital television: Politics, policy and power', Australian Journal of Political Science, 50 297-314 (2015) [C1] © 2015 Australian Political Studies Association. This article discusses the introduction of digital television to Australia, and the competing interests, and conflicts of power, s... [more] © 2015 Australian Political Studies Association. This article discusses the introduction of digital television to Australia, and the competing interests, and conflicts of power, surrounding this. It seeks to explain the primary outcomes of the digital settlement in terms of these interests and these processes of power. It points out how this settlement was very much at odds with the pro-market, deregulatory and competition-oriented reform advanced by the Howard government (and prior to it, the Hawke and Keating governments) in other industry sectors. The digital settlement introduced in 2001 entirely determined what Australians watched on their television screens for the first decade of the 21st century. This article seeks to unpack the processes that led to this outcome.
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2014 |
Tate JW, 'Paul Keating and leadership: Was the 'personal' political?', Australian Journal of Political Science, 49 439-454 (2014) [C1] This article proposes three possible reasons why political leaders abide by policy decisions in the face of vigorous opposition - because they perceive the policy to be 'righ... [more] This article proposes three possible reasons why political leaders abide by policy decisions in the face of vigorous opposition - because they perceive the policy to be 'right', because abiding by a decision is necessary to appear 'strong', or because of personal motives arising from the leader themselves. The article applies this framework to Paul Keating's apparent refusal, as Treasurer in 1989, to consider mortgage relief in the midst of prohibitively high interest rates arising from monetary policy at that time. The article concludes that it is the 'personal' dimension that most explains Keating's decision-making on this issue. This is a significant finding given that such personal motives are incapable of legitimation in liberal democratic terms, yet policy decisions arising from them can have an immense impact. © 2014 Australian Political Studies Association.
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2013 |
Tate JW, ''We Cannot Give One Millimetre'? Liberalism, Enlightenment and Diversity', Political Studies, 61 816-833 (2013) [C1]
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2013 |
Tate JW, 'Dividing Locke from God: The limits of theology in Locke's political philosophy', Philosphy & Social Criticism, 39 133-164 (2013) [C1]
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2012 |
Tate JW, 'Locke, God, and civil society: Response to Stanton', Political Theory, 40 222-228 (2012) [C1]
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2010 |
Tate JW, 'Locke, rationality and persecution', Political Studies, 58 988-1008 (2010) [C1]
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2010 |
Tate JW, 'Toleration, neutrality and historical illiteracy', Journal of European Studies, 40 129-157 (2010) [C1]
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2010 |
Tate JW, 'A sententious divide: Erasing the two faces of liberalism', Philosophy & Social Criticism, 36 953-980 (2010) [C1]
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2010 | Tate JW, 'Liberalism, blasphemy and religion', Nebula, 7 135-142 (2010) [C1] | |||||||
2009 |
Tate JW, 'John Howard's 'Nation': Multiculturalism, citizenship, and identity', Australian Journal of Politics and History, 55 97-120 (2009) [C1]
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2009 |
Tate JW, 'Locke and toleration: Defending Locke's liberal credentials', Philosophy & Social Criticism, 35 761-791 (2009) [C1]
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2008 |
Tate JW, 'Free speech or equal respect? Liberalism's competing values', Philosophy and Social Criticism, 34 987-1020 (2008) [C1]
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2005 | Tate JW, 'Tamihana Korokai and Native Title: Healing the Imperial Breach', Waikato law review : Taumauri, 13 108-144 (2005) [C1] | |||||||
2004 | Tate JW, 'The Three Precedents of Wi Parata', The Canterbury Law Review, 10 273-308 (2004) [C1] | |||||||
2004 | Tate JW, 'Hohepa Wi Neera: Native Title and the Privy Council Challenge', Victoria University of Wellington Law Review, 35 73-115 (2004) [C1] | |||||||
2004 | Tate JW, 'The Privy Council and Native Title: A Requiem for Wi Parata', Waikato Law Review, 12 101-152 (2004) [C1] | |||||||
2003 | Tate JW, 'Pre-Wi Parata: Early Native Title Cases in New Zealand', Waikato Law Review, 11 112-167 (2003) [C1] | |||||||
2001 | Tate JW, 'Giving Substance to Murphy's Law: The Question of Australian Sovereignty', Monash University Law Review, 27, 1 21-77 (2001) [C1] | |||||||
2000 | Tate JW, 'Review of Kevin Andrews and Michelle Curtis, "Changing Australia: Social, Cultural and Economic Trends Shaping the Nation"', International Journal of Employment Studies, 8 203-204 (2000) [C3] | |||||||
1999 | Tate JW, 'Posting the Modern to the Past?', Telos, 115 79-94 (1999) [C3] | |||||||
Show 26 more journal articles |
Conference (7 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
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2012 | Tate JW, 'Locke, Politics, and the Limits of Theology', Proceedings of the 62nd Annual International Conference of the Political Studies Association, Belfast, Ireland (2012) [E2] | ||
2012 | Tate JW, 'French headscarves and American school prayer: Liberalism and republicanism in the French and American public spheres', Proceedings of the 62nd Annual International Conference of the Political Studies Association, Belfast, Ireland (2012) [E2] | ||
2012 | Tate JW, 'French headscarves and American flags: Liberalism and republicanism in the French and American public sphere', XXII World Congress of the International Political Science Association, Madrid, Spain (2012) [E3] | ||
2010 | Tate JW, 'Liberalism, toleration and Danish cartoon', Australian Political Studies Association Annual Conference 2010. Full Papers, Melbourne, Vic (2010) [E1] | ||
2009 | Tate JW, 'Liberalism, rationality and religion', Australian Political Studies Association Annual Conference 2009: Refereed Papers, Sydney, NSW (2009) [E1] | ||
2008 | Tate JW, 'Citizens, citizenship and citizenship tests', APSA 2008 Abstracts, Brisbane, QLD (2008) [E3] | ||
2006 | Tate JW, 'Free Speech or Equal Respect? Liberalism's Competing Values', APSA Conference 2006, Newcastle (2006) [E1] | ||
Show 4 more conferences |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 10 |
---|---|
Total funding | $24,775 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20081 grants / $1,679
Australian Political Studies Association (APSA) Annual Conference, Hilton Hotel Brisbane, 6/7/2008 - 9/7/2008$1,679
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor John Tate |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2008 |
Funding Finish | 2008 |
GNo | G0189185 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20061 grants / $715
John Howard's Decade, 3-4 March 2006$715
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor John Tate |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2006 |
Funding Finish | 2006 |
GNo | G0186159 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20052 grants / $5,585
'No Simple Nullity': Judicial Recogntion of the Treaty of Waitangi in the Wake of Wi Parata$5,000
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor John Tate |
Scheme | Project Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2005 |
Funding Finish | 2005 |
GNo | G0184781 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
Australasian Political Studies Association (APSA) Conference (Annual Conference), 28-30 September 2005$585
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor John Tate |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2005 |
Funding Finish | 2005 |
GNo | G0185661 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20041 grants / $2,750
Native title in New Zealand, 1847-2003$2,750
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor John Tate |
Scheme | Project Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2004 |
Funding Finish | 2004 |
GNo | G0183522 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20031 grants / $480
Australasian Political Studies Association Conference 2003 29/09/03 to 01/10/03$480
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor John Tate |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2003 |
Funding Finish | 2003 |
GNo | G0183603 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20022 grants / $4,413
Liberalism and its Limits: Reflections on the Politics of Terror$4,000
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor John Tate |
Scheme | Early Career Researcher Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2002 |
Funding Finish | 2002 |
GNo | G0182661 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
Annual Australasian Political Studies Association Conference, Canberra 2-4 October 2002$413
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor John Tate |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2002 |
Funding Finish | 2002 |
GNo | G0182547 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20011 grants / $153
Australiasian Political Studies Association (APSA) 2001 Annual Conference Queensland Parliament House, Brisbane 24-26 September, 2001$153
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor John Tate |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2001 |
Funding Finish | 2001 |
GNo | G0181504 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
19981 grants / $9,000
The Limits of Liberalism: Cultural Rights Between Maori and Pakeha in New Zealand$9,000
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor John Tate |
Scheme | New Staff Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 1998 |
Funding Finish | 1998 |
GNo | G0178249 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
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2015 | PhD | Iran's Role in Reduction of Terrorism in Both Middle East and Global Level | PhD (Politics), Faculty of Business and Law, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2015 | PhD | Tribes and Intrastate Conflict: Using Indigenous Methods for Conflict Resolution in Pakistan’s Tribal Frontier | PhD (Politics), Faculty of Business and Law, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2014 | PhD | Resource Politics: Foreign Investors, the State and Traditional Landowners in the Development of Mineral Resources in Papua New Guinea: A Case Study of the Ramu Nickel Mine in Madang Province | PhD (Politics), Faculty of Business and Law, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2013 | PhD | Australia’s Dirtiest Balancing Act? Performance, Perception and the Influence of Political Party Identity on Energy and Environmental Policies | PhD (Politics), Faculty of Business and Law, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
Past Supervision
Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
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2019 | Masters | Neoliberal Globalization and Egypt’s Modern Political Economy - Strategies and Impediments to Development | M Philosophy (Economics), Faculty of Business and Law, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Dr John Tate
Positions
Senior Lecturer
Newcastle Business School
Faculty of Business and Law
Casual Academic
Newcastle Business School
Faculty of Business and Law
Focus area
Politics
Contact Details
john.tate@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | (02) 4921 5067 |
Fax | (02) 4921 6919 |
Office
Room | X-742 |
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Building | NeW Space |
Location | City Campus , |