Australian Politics

Australia is one of the world’s oldest liberal democracies. This course explores this stability and change dynamic through an examination of two key themes: (1) the values, attitudes and behaviour of citizens, policymakers and other important actors; and (2) the cleavages and institutions that attempt to manage them. It examines how factors such as identity and views on the role of government drive political attitudes and behaviour, and considers how these have been changing over time. Through the framing of the role of government, major historical and contemporary political debates in Australia will be covered, including taxation, social security, health care, education, migration, economic policy, and the outcomes and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This course also dedicates attention to formal political institutions, paying particular attention to the constitution, institutions of government (e.g. High Court, Parliament, federalism, and the Australian Public Service), and electoral competition. We will also compare Australia to other advanced democracies, in order to shed light on what factors make Australia distinct and how Australia compares to its international peers.