Coral Bell (1923-2012) was a Sydney-born scholar of world politics. Following half a decade as a diplomat in the postwar Australian Department of External Affairs, she sailed to London to start postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics. A distinguished international career followed, with academic appointments at British universities from the early 1950s to late 1970s running in parallel with think tank work at Chatham House and the International Institute of Strategic Studies. In 1977 Bell returned to Australia as a research fellow in the ANU’s Department of International Relations and, after her retirement in 1988, remained associated mainly with the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre until her death.

Drawing on his ongoing PhD research, Benedict will explore the question of how to approach producing the first monograph on Bell’s work and legacy. Biographical, Australian, feminist, Cold War and other perspectives could all be taken. Benedict will offer reflections on these possibilities, and on the combination of topical and historical dimensions involved in his own research.

Benedict Moleta is a PhD student in the Department of International Relations, Australian National University, writing on the intellectual legacy of Coral Bell. Other research interests include Middle East and Central Asian politics (especially political Islam and Hamas), thought and action in the public sphere from Lessing to Adorno, and learning languages.