Australian Politics In The Twenty First Century

The global political environment in the twenty-first century is proving dynamic and challenging for Australian policymakers and political institutions. Australian Politics in the Twenty-first Century contextualises the Australian political landscape through an institutional lens. It examines the legislative and judicial bodies, minor parties, lobby groups, the media and the citizenry, providing historical and contemporary facts, explaining political issues and examining new challenges. The second edition has been updated to reflect the application of political theories in today's civic environment. New spotlight boxes highlight issues including marriage equality, COVID-19 and federalism, the inclusion of First Nations peoples in the political system, and gender equality in public policy. Short-answer, reflection, research and discussion questions encourage students to test and extend their knowledge of each topic and to clearly link theory to practice. Written in an accessible and engaging style, Australian Politics in the Twenty-First Century is an invaluable introduction to the Australian political system.

Australian Politics in the Twenty-First Century brings to life traditional institutions, theories and concepts by considering the key question: how are Australia's political institutions holding up in the face of the new challenges, dynamics and turbulence that have emerged and intensified in the new millennium? This approach encourages students to critically examine the complex interplay between a centuries' old system and a diverse, modern Australian society. This text presents the many moving parts of Australia's political system from an institutional perspective: the legislative and judiciary bodies, as well as lobby groups, the media, minor parties and independents, and the citizenry - institutions not often considered but whose influence is rapidly increasing. Student learning is supported through learning objectives, key terms, discussion questions, further readings and breakout boxes that highlight key theories, events and individuals. The extensive resources available in the VitalSource interactive eBook reaffirm comprehension and extend learning.

As the second title in Palgrave Macmillan’s Assessing the Evidence series, Politics in Australia adopts both a historical and conceptual approach, dealing with issues considered fundamental to the Australian political system throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This text provides a detailed examination of the structural elements as well as the key concepts considered central to an understanding of Australian politics at a Commonwealth level, such as: • federalism • the constitution • parliament• executive government• citizenship• liberalism • conservatism• political parties• democracy

Culture Wars: Australian and American politics in 21st Century argues that 'culture wars' attitudes and conflicts intrinsic to US politics for many decades are also deeply embedded characteristics of Australian political life in the 21st century. It suggests that during the Howard years (1996-2007) culture war antagonisms were forced to the political surface in Australia, albeit without the volatility and violence that sometimes accompanies disputes over religion, social authority, morality, multiculturalism, race, sexuality, education, immigration, feminism and national identity in the United States. With the demise of the Bush Administration (2000-2008) and the Howard Government some have proclaimed an end to the culture wars. This book suggests otherwise, proposing that the Rudd Government's `me-too' strategy in taking power and the tendency since to remain loyal to the Howard agenda on major areas of public policy is illustrative of its need to retain the support of its socially conservative working class constituency and many of `Howards battlers' returning to the ALP after the Keating years. This, it argues, will create increasing cultural tensions with its more progressivist sectors. The authors maintain that this tension is not necessarily a negative for Australian politics because it will help further ventilate culture war disputes within Australian society and democratise debates which have been largely the province of educated elites. The book seeks to further this democratisation process and engage the culture wars in broader terms than is anywhere else available in the literature. It provides a historical and intellectual framework for understanding the contemporary culture wars, before traversing some of its many battlegrounds, on foreign policy and national identity, 'the struggle for God', 'family values', immigration, the History Wars and the (Australian) 'Bogan' factor among others.

The latter years of the first decade of the twenty-first century were characterised by an enormous amount of challenge and change to Australia and Australians. Australia's part in these challenges and changes is borne of our domestic and global ties, our orientation towards ourselves and others, and an ever increasing awareness of the interdependency of our world. Challenges and changes such as terrorism, climate change, human rights, community breakdown, work and livelihood, and crime are not new but they take on new variations and impact on us in different ways in times such as these.

The first comprehensive volume on the impact of digital media on Australian politics, this book examines the way these technologies shape political communication, alter key public and private institutions, and serve as the new arena in which discursive and expressive political life is performed. -- Publisher's description.