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Bolger, James Brendan
Bolger, James Brendan ( ‘Jim’ Bolger) (b. 31 May 1935). Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1990–97 Born in Taranaki as the son of Irish immigrants, he became a farmer. In 1972 he became a Member of Parliament for the National Party, and in 1975 became a parliamentary under-secretary. From 1977 he served as Minister of Fisheries and Associate Minister of Agriculture. In 1978, he held the portfolios of Labour and Immigration, in which position he liberalized the country's relatively rigid labour laws. After the National Party's election defeat in 1984, he became a leading member of the opposition, and in 1986 he became chairman of the National Party and leader of the opposition. Following another election defeat against Lange's Labour Party, he shifted the party from its previous interventionist stance to one which endorsed the radical liberalization of the economy. Fostering an image of solid reliability (as against the charismatic Lange), he led his party to a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections, ruthlessly exploiting Labour's internal divisions.
Arguing that the country could no longer afford its comprehensive welfare system, Bolger revolutionized social policy from universal to means-tested assistance designed to benefit only the very poorest sections of society. Pensions were no longer automatically guaranteed, rents in state-owned accommodation were raised to market levels, and expenditure on university education was drastically cut. He was re-elected in 1993, albeit with a small majority, which enabled him to continue his reforms. At the same time, he tried very hard to come to an agreement with the Maoris about their land claims resulting from the Treaty of Waitangi. He struck a more populist note in his outspoken condemnation of the French resumption of nuclear testing at Mururoa in 1995. He was succeeded by Jenny Shipley, and in 1998 was appointed Ambassador to Washington. welfare state |
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JAN PALMOWSKI. "Bolger, James Brendan." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAN PALMOWSKI. "Bolger, James Brendan." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-BolgerJamesBrendan.html JAN PALMOWSKI. "Bolger, James Brendan." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-BolgerJamesBrendan.html |
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James Bolger
James Bolger , 1935–, New Zealand political leader. A sheep rancher, he entered Parliament in 1972 as a member of the National party. In Robert Muldoon's government, he served as minister of fisheries (1977–78), immigration (1978–81), and labour (1978–84). His party fell out of power after 1984 and in 1986 he became opposition leader. In 1990, he became prime minister after securing a landslide victory for his party; the National party was narrowly returned to power in 1993. Bolger was ousted as party leader and prime minister by Jenny Shipley in 1997. |
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"James Bolger." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "James Bolger." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Bolger-J.html "James Bolger." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Bolger-J.html |
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Bolger, James B(rendan)
Bolger, James B(rendan) (1935– ) New Zealand statesman, Prime Minister (1990–97). He was leader of the National Party, which won elections in 1990 and 1993. He formed a coalition government after the elections of 1996 but resigned the following year.
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Cite this article
"Bolger, James B(rendan)." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Bolger, James B(rendan)." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-BolgerJamesBrendan.html "Bolger, James B(rendan)." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-BolgerJamesBrendan.html |
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