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Abstract

It is difficult to avoid politics. The news headlines which interrupt our favourite
television programs and the news banners which scroll across the most popular
websites are filled with stories of wars, government failures and corruption. While
we are all aware of politics, increasingly, as a society, we are sceptical about
politics and uninterested in the activities of our governments and leaders. Given
such views, few were surprised when a recent opinion poll found that only 9% of
Australians regarded federal politicians as having ‘very high standards of honesty
and ethics’. Such findings are not unique to Australia as
international surveys reveal similar trends and voter participation rates (voting is
voluntary in most countries) have been declining across the Western world. Such responses might be a natural reaction to the sensationalist coverage
which dominates the popular press, but the fact remains that politics will always be
an essential feature of modern life because we need civilised ways of resolving the
disagreements that inevitably arise in any society. In short, politics is fundamental
for social stability and economic development because we need agreed procedures
for making decisions and resolving conflicts in an efficient and legitimate manner.

Item Type:	Book Section
Authors/Creators:	Eccleston, RG and Hollander, Robyn and van Acker, Elizabeth and Williams, Paul
Publisher:	Pearson Education
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