A long standing and traditional theme in literature and culture is that determination always being a virtue because it is commensurate with a positive approach to promoting the common good. This perspective negates the fact that there have been too many instances of people and leaders throughout history who have been determined to overcome all obstacles in the pursuit of their self-interest.

Due to technological innovation the world is entering a period of potentially negative creative destruction where change results in less employment being generated. The contemporary context of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) could create a context in which negative creative destruction causes high levels of poverty and associated social crisis.

The political situation in Egypt is so precarious that any mis-step by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces could be very detrimental to the Middle East region and to the world. This article by Dr. David Paul Bennett reviews the contemporary situation in Egypt with reference to that nation’s recent past and possible future.

The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) presents the world with fundamental challenges. Modern history has shown that in times of acute challenge existing socio-political and financial systems often require fundamental reform and/or adaptation. For example Russia in 1917 as on course to adapt, but did not, thereby allowing a strident minority to impose its ideological framework on that nation.

The following is the text of a speech was delivered by the Chairman of the Australian Monarchist League (AML) Mr. Philip Benwell (MBE).  The speech was entitled ‘Crown and Federation’ was delivered to the Bayside Monarchists Group at the Hampton RSL in Melbourne on Saturday the 4th of October 2008.