The years 1997–2001 were eventful ones for the Howard Government. This second volume of the Howard Government series explores these tumultuous years.

In Back from the Brink politicians, commentators and scholars including Michael Wesley, Hugh White, Peter Costello, Phillipa McGuinness and Tom Frame and take a critical look at the Howard Government's performance, and analyse landmark events -- Wik and native title, a succession of ministerial resignations, the Patrick Corporation waterfront dispute, the Coalition's near defeat at the 1998 election, the response to post-independence violence in East Timor, and the introduction of the GST.