The consequences and impacts of maverick politicians on contemporary Australian politics

Abstract

This thesis analyses the consequences and impacts of maverick politicians on contemporary Australian politics, especially Australian political parties. The thesis uses a case study methodology to argue that maverick politicians are one manifestation of an anti-political mood currently found in the electorate; that they provide parties with a testing ground to develop leaders, although maverickism and leadership are a difficult mix of attributes to sustain; that they can have significant influence on a party’s policy formulation; and that they form strong organisational ties within the party, centred on localism. The research is important because there has been little enquiry into political mavericks in the literature; although the term “maverick” is widely used in the media and scholarly work there is no consensus on what political maverick means, who political mavericks are or the consequences of their actions. This thesis sheds some light on those questions and helps explain the associated concepts of “celebrity politician” and “conviction politician” - concepts which are similarly poorly researched but widely used.