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Australia's Political Institutions and the Corruption of Public Opinion

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-26, 16:29 authored by Marsh, I
This article explores structural causes for the decline in the quality of Australia's political and policy conversations. Three are nominated. The first concerns the changing role of the major party organisations. These no longer contribute to agenda setting; they are no longer forums for activist and interest mobilisation; they no longer mobilise and cue a mass base. The second structural change concerns the rise in the role of the media. This is now the primary bridge between the formal political system and the surrounding society, a role for which it is singularly ill-equipped. The third change concerns the misalignment between the formal political system and Australian society. The formal system was formed in the early twentieth century when Australian society was broadly divided by class allegiance. Those days are long gone. Class has decomposed. A variety of new concerns differentiate and pluralise social attitudes. Possible remedies are then discussed.

History

Publication title

The Australian Journal of Public Administration

Volume

66

Article number

3

Number

3

Pagination

329-341

ISSN

0313-6647

Publication status

  • Published

Rights statement

The definitive published version is available online at: http://www.interscience.wiley.com

Repository Status

  • Restricted

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