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This collection of essays concentrates on the scope for commercial cooperation between the Northern Territory and Eastern Indonesia, and the challenges confronting those seeking to exploit commercial opportunities. Contributors to this volume include the then Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Hon. Shane Stone, senior government ministers, Australian and Indonesian government experts in Eastern Indonesia, anthropologists, economists, historians and business people. Papers identify the live cattle trade, mining, the Timor Gap, technology transfers, education and tourism as sectors in which The Northern Territory has a competitive advantage and which offer scope for further development of trade between Eastern Indonesia and Northern Australia. The authors demonstrate that opportunities for the Northern Territory in Eastern Indonesia lie in capitalising on three advantages: proximity, complementarities between economic sectors and appropriateness to the needs of Eastern Indonesia of the Northern Territory's experience in applying new technology to harsh, remote and highly dispersed environments. In recognising the potential of the Asian market in the region, The Northern Territory is marketing itself as Australia's future gateway to Asia, particularly Indonesia. The Australia Indonesia Development Area (AIDA) agreement, which emphasised Australia's positive role in promoting private investment in Indonesia's Eastern Provinces, and continued the drawing of boundaries for Australia- Indonesia relationships, was signed by Ministers Downer and Hartarto in 1997. This collection reinforces the significance of the Northern Territory's relationship with Indonesia. It reinforces the countries' position as neighbours and highlights the need to assist business and encourage investment from both countries.

This collection of essays is focused on the economic crisis in Asia and the affects on Australia's relationship with countries in the East Asia region. The essays are taken from the proceedings of a workshop held in the midst of the crisis and followed the fall from grace of Indonesia's President Soeharto in May 1998. The core questions addressed in this volume are linked to the quality and strength of Australia's relationship with its northern neighbours. The book is invaluable as an update on the impact of the political and economic upheaval on the treaties and memorandums of understanding that network Australia into the East Asia region. It is also a rich source of information on the dynamics of Australian State and Territory involvement in the region. All of the contributors are acknowledged as experts in their field and include senior politicians, public officials, and academics from Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Australia.

This paper has attempted to identify some of the problems of inequity associated with the globalisation of public sector reform principles which societies in developing countries (Zimbabwe) share with indigenous societies in developed countries (Australian Aborigines). The decision to take an institutional approach to comparative research in Zimbabwe and Australia arose from pressures to reform and perceptions of democratisation, including recognition of the need to develop stronger and more substantial processes for ensuring equity in development. The role of democracy in public sector reform remains unresolved in the Zimbabwe one-party state where the costs of compromising the mechanics of democracy remain to be seen. Assistance with economic and democratic development needs to be carried out in a strong framework of self-determination. Without self-determination, it is difficult to effect a coordinated approach to public sector reform in any substantial way; without institutions that can respond to self-determination, there is little chance of reform. The Zimbabwean public sector is on a steep upward learning curve. Strikes and confrontations have been unsettling but, in this case, they should be seen as a sign of healthy unrest—people taking issue against corruption, demanding to have the right to free association, demanding democracy and, to be governed through a more equitable process. In Australia, the democratic institutions are entrenched—constitutionalism is a fundamental principle. But institutional equity and the ability of the system to respond to the needs of the Aboriginal people is unresolved. Democracy and liberalisation do not guarantee equity.

This paper has attempted to identify some of the problems of inequity associated with the globalisation of public sector reform principles which societies in developing countries (Zimbabwe) share with indigenous societies in developed countries (Australian Aborigines). The decision to take an institutional approach to comparative research in Zimbabwe and Australia arose from pressures to reform and perceptions of democratisation, including recognition of the need to develop stronger and more substantial processes for ensuring equity in development. The role of democracy in public sector reform remains unresolved in the Zimbabwe one-party state where the costs of compromising the mechanics of democracy remain to be seen. Assistance with economic and democratic development needs to be carried out in a strong framework of self-determination. Without self-determination, it is difficult to effect a coordinated approach to public sector reform in any substantial way; without institutions that can respond to self-determination, there is little chance of reform. The Zimbabwean public sector is on a steep upward learning curve. Strikes and confrontations have been unsettling but, in this case, they should be seen as a sign of healthy unrest—people taking issue against corruption, demanding to have the right to free association, demanding democracy and, to be governed through a more equitable process. In Australia, the democratic institutions are entrenched—constitutionalism is a fundamental principle. But institutional equity and the ability of the system to respond to the needs of the Aboriginal people is unresolved. Democracy and liberalisation do not guarantee equity.

'Citizens Without Rights: Aborigines and Australian Citizenship' by John Chesterman and Brian Galligan is reviewed.