The Futures of Democracy, Law and Government

After reading The Futures of Democracy, Law and Government: Contributions to a conference in honour of Sir Geoffrey Palmer, I have a renewed appreciation for the laws that make up our society. While I was just a boy and not interested in politics when Sir Geoffrey took office, I can now honestly say that I retroactively appreciate him.

Starting as a law professor and then an MP representing Christchurch, in 1979, he went on to help form the fourth Labour Government as their justice minister. He was responsible for helping to develop many acts in this capacity, including the New Zealand Bill of Rights, before becoming our 33^rd prime minster in 1989.

The Futures of Democracy, Law and Government is a series of essays by eminent judges, scholars, and politicians who discuss elements of his career in public affairs. The book explains why things are the way they are and the role political parties play in our Westernised democratic system, touching on human rights and the Treaty of Waitangi as well as a host of other things we sometimes take for granted.

My favourite part of the essay collection was finding out about Sir Geoffrey’s understanding of the environment and how climate change would affect not only individuals but businesses as well. There was a need, as the book says, to safeguard the environment for future generations.  

Despite being a very thorough read, I never felt intimidated by the subject matter of The Futures of Democracy, Law and Government. While I am by no means a politician, the writing was easy to follow and I was able to grasp many of the concepts laid down. While I enjoyed the book and it made me appreciate the laws that are in place today, I can see how someone who isn’t into politics to begin with might not be convinced to start tuning in.

In short, if you love politics, I wholeheartedly suggest picking this book up. Even if you don’t, I still recommend checking it out to see if it’s for you. I suspect you will not regret it.