In light of considerable interest in the term “neo‐liberalism”, its historical origins, and its uses and misuses – including its use by Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd – we have decided to get together an informal working group to discuss how the term was developed by the French philosopher Michel Foucault.

Foucault’s lectures at the College de France in 1978‐79 have only now been translated and published. In these lectures he traces a history of liberalism as an “art of government”, and its relationship to political economy and to government policy.

In the lectures, Foucault focuses upon the origins of the term “neo‐liberalism” among the Freiberg School of German social thinkers, and its later uses by the Chicago School of American political economists. This is traced to changing ideas about the relationship between the individual, the state, society and economy.

The first meeting will focus upon how the idea of neo‐liberalism was developed in Germany and applied through the “social market economy” in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Later meetings will consider American neo‐liberalism as developed by Milton Freidman, Gary Becker and others, and contrasts between the neo‐liberal “art of government” and alternative approaches. Professor Terry Flew from the Creative Industries Faculty will lead the first discussion.

Read more: The Birth of Biopolitics: Reading Group

This webiste has been hosting a online discussion for QUT law students on the topic of rule of law (see here). If you have read through the comments and posts from them, you will see how they are thoughtful and how smart they are. There are a few points that I made in the discussion forum and I want to present to you here in case that you are not about to go through all of the posts and discussions.

The disscusion start from several questions including prof. Cohen's lecture "Is There Law in China? Is There Justice?",  What influence does the communist party have on the implementation of the rule of law in China? and Anything in Media Concerning the Chinese Legal System Recently?

The autocracy of the Chinese communist party

Farra points out the autocracy of the Chinese communist party here; I have to disaggree with her/him about the term "autocreacy".

First of all, to understand the rule of law in China, you can not separate it from China's success in the business arena. It is a globalised age which is particularly true in the case of business. The pursuit in free market economy contributes significantly to China's success in the field of domestic and international trade and business. Market economy is based on many crucial rules which are globally applicable. These rules include the freedom of contract, protection of private property, fair judicial system, effecitve legislature, etc.. Without the rule of law, it is hardly possible that the operation of market could be successful.

Read more: The Rule of Law in China and the Communist Party

At the launch of the QUT WIPO Master of Intellectual Property Law, Dr Gurry has presented a seminar "The Changing Landscape of Intellectual Property":

"With the advent of the knowledge economy, intellectual property is occupying an increasingly central place in the economy. At the same time, the traditional landscape of intellectual property is undergoing rapid and fundamental change. The location of technology production is shifting to North East Asia. The speed of technological change is quickening and challenging the capacity of the multilateral system to provide timely responses. New players have entered the policy debate with the networked society and intellectual property can no longer be considered to be the preserve of specialists. Technology is provoking fundamental change in the distribution of cultural content. The digital divide and the knowledge gap are fuelling calls for greater sharing of knowledge. How is the international system for intellectual property coping with these manifold and sometimes contradictory challenges?"

QUT/WIPO: Master of Intellectual Property Law

The Master of Intellectual Property Law, commencing in February 2010, is offered jointly by the World Intellectual Property Organization Worldwide Academy (WIPO) and QUT’s Faculty of Law in Brisbane, Australia.

Read more: Dr Francis Gurry, Director-General, WIPO: The Changing Landscape of Intellectual Property