On behalf of the Editorial Board of Social Justice, I am pleased to introduce this special issue on "The Politics of Empowerment in Australia," edited by Pat O'Malley.

As with our previous special issue on Canada (No. 26, 1986), we gave full responsibility to a guest editor who has both a proven record of progressive scholarship and in-depth familiarity with the problems and contradictions of his own country. We are grateful to Pat O'Malley for soliciting articles from a variety of contributors who cover a broad range of important issues. Moreover, each author addresses the same central themes, thus giving analytical coherence to the issue as a whole.

For readers outside Australia, especially those living in the United States, "The Politics of Empowerment in Australia" not only provides an opportunity to become better informed about an important nation within the Pacific Rim. It also offers comparative insights about the social and ideological problems that confront all of the core countries in the current period of global economic crisis and political instability.

As you will see, spelling and grammar follow Australian conventions. The editor provides a glossary of terms. As always, we welcome your feedback on this issue. Please make sure that you also send any comments to the guest editor, Pat O'Malley at La Trobe University, Australia.