Suchergebnisse

This paper considers data from Australia on two dimensions related to the concept of sovereignty, namely public attitudes concerning the maintenance of economic boundaries and attitudes related to the social, economic and cultural impact of immigration. The data suggest that in general Australians are inclined to favour economic protection rather than openness but at the same time they tend to emphasise the benefits rather than the costs of immigration. Various theoretical propositions are tested concerning the social and attitudinal predictors of these dimensions. Despite some differences between the two dimensions, the most important variables prove to be occupational status, birthplace and education, plus attitudes towards multi-national companies and general feelings towards immigrants. These results imply that, other things being equal, public attitudes on both the immigration and economic dimensions are likely to become more open over time.

The study & theorization of leadership effects on electoral outcomes have only recently come to be regarded as significant. To augment this body of research, this paper examines the potential impact of political leaders on voting behavior outside of legislative contests -- in this case, the 1999 Australian constitutional referendum. Also considered is the extent to which noninstitutional but well-known political figures may affect popular political behavior. 3 Tables, 16 References. K. Coddon

Quite apart from the constitutional debate over whether Australia should become a republic, republican political theory has recently experienced something of a revival in the Australian context through the work of Philip Pettit in the Reshaping Australian Institutions Project at the Australian National University. This article outlines the fundamental assumptions of this version of republican theory and then proceeds to test them empirically with sample survey data which explore citizen attitudes, beliefs and practices on these questions. The results indicate that the tenets of republication theory are widely accepted by the Australian public, but that this endorsement does not translate strongly into behavioural outcomes. The article concludes with a discussion of why this might be the case and of the wider implications of these findings.

AbstractIn Australia, religion historically has been seen as a secondary but nonetheless significant sociopolitical cleavage, in part cutting across the class divide. In recent times, Australian scholars, like those elsewhere, have been inclined to argue that the political significance of religion is a legacy of the past and that religion no longer plays an important role in shaping mass political behaviour. Although class is also said to have declined in political significance, it is still treated as being of some importance as a cornerstone of the party system. However, many scholars seem more willing to dismiss the relevance of religion altogether. Using sample survey data collected over more than 25 years, this article examines the role of religion in modern Australian electoral politics and assesses the adequacy of such arguments.

In Australia, religion historically has been seen as a secondary but nonetheless significant sociopolitical cleavage, in part cutting across the class divide. In recent times, Australian scholars, like those elsewhere, have been inclined to argue that the political significance of religion is a legacy of the past & that religion no longer plays an important role in shaping mass political behavior. Although class is also said to have declined in political significance, it is still treated as being of some importance as a cornerstone of the party system. However, many scholars seem more willing to dismiss the relevance of religion altogether. Using sample survey data collected over more than 25 years, this article examines the role of religion in modern Australian electoral politics & assesses the adequacy of such arguments. 6 Tables, 4 Figures, 31 References. Adapted from the source document.

Bean reviews 'From Campaign to Coalition: New Zealand's First General Election Under Proportional Representation' edited by Jonathan Boston, Stephen Levine, Elizabeth McLeay and Nigel S. Roberts.