Peter Saunders
Peter Saunders is a social researcher, sociologist, writer, consultant, and media commentator who is known for his libertarian views.[1] Between 2001 and 2008 he was Social REsearch director at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney. He is on the Academic Advisory Council of the right wing think tank Civitas.[2]
The following is a biographical note current at September 2007:
- Peter Saunders took up his current position as Social Research Director at the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) in Sydney in September 2001. He is Professor Emeritus of the University of Sussex in England, where he taught sociology for nearly twenty-five years, and is Adjunct Professor at the Australian Graduate School of Management.
- Professor Saunders has held visiting academic posts at the University of Melbourne, the ANU, the University of Canterbury (New Zealand), the University of Bremen (Germany), and Brown University in the USA. Between 1999 and 2000 he was Research Manager at the Australian Institute of Family Studies in Melbourne where he ran the Institute's research program and edited Reforming the Australian Welfare State, published in 2000.
- His major publications include empirical studies of social mobility in Britain (Unequal But Fair, 1996), the impact of mass home ownership on British society (A Nation of Home Owners, 1990) and the political and social significance of privatisation (Privatization and Popular Capitalism, 1994). He has also published several theoretical and analytical works including Capitalism: A Social Audit (1995), Social Class and Stratification (1990) and Social Theory and the Urban Question (1981/1986). He is also co-author of a best-selling text book on British politics, now in its third edition, and of a new student text on survey methodology. His work has been translated into French, German, Italian, Rumanian, Korean and Mandarin.
- Professor Saunders's research at CIS focuses mainly on ideas for welfare and tax reform in Australia. His latest book, Australia's Welfare Habit, and how to kick it, was published by Duffy & Snellgrove in August 2004, and he is editor of the CIS 'Perspectives on Tax Reform' series of papers. In addition to publishing with CIS, he appears regularly in the media as a contributor to newspapers and on television and radio.[3]
In July 2008 Peter Saunders left the Centre for Independent Studies and returned to the UK to work freelance.[4]
Affiliations
- Centre for Independent Studies (2001-2008)
- Civitas[5]
Selected publications
- Taxploitation: The Case for Income Tax Reform (edited 2006, ISBN 1864321148).
- Australia's Welfare Habit: And how to kick it (2004, ISBN 1864320923).
- A Self-Reliant Australia (2003, ISBN 186432080X).
- Poverty in Australia: Beyond the Rhetoric (2002, ISBN 1864320729).
- Social Foundations of a Free Society (2001, ISBN 1864320656).
- Unequal But Fair (1996, ISBN 0255363664).
- Capitalism: A Social Audit (1995, ISBN 033519141X).
- Privatization and Popular Capitalism (with Colin Harris, 1994, ISBN 0335157084).
- A Nation of Home Owners (1990 ISBN 0044454899).
- Social Class and Stratification (1990, ISBN 0415041252) .
- Social Theory and the Urban Question (1981/1986, ISBN 0091644313).
External links
- Profile at the Centre for Independent Studies Website
- Biography at the Brisbane Institute Web site.
- Profile at the Centre for Independent Studies Web site.
- Saunders's articles at On Line Opinion Web site.
Contact
- Website http://www.petersaunders.org.uk
