Religion and Politics over a Career.

A career-long focus on the intersections between religion and politics grew out of family, personal and academic interests. These influences and academic explorations led to questioning the common assumption that religion and politics should--or even can--be 'kept separate'. On the other hand, the ways in which religion and politics intersect and interact, and their various configurations, provide fertile ground for analysis, and have important consequences for our national life. These intersections and interactions take distinctive forms in Australia, meaning that we need local research that, while informed by international models, is firmly grounded in our own situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]