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Abstract

In 1992, American political scientist Frances Fukuyama proclaimed
‘the end of history’, because with the collapse of communism,
Western-style liberal democracy was the only credible form of
political organisation (Fukuyama 1992). While many people disagree
with the ‘end of history’ argument, Fukuyama is right that in the early 21st century nearly every country claims to have some form of
democracy. Even China, with its strong communist traditions, is
embracing market capitalism and forms of democratic participation (He
1996). Despite this strong trend towards democratic systems of
government, it is important to remember that even in the present era of
globalisation, significant variations in national political systems remain.
In short, the rules of the political game vary from country to country
because of a host of historical, cultural and economic reasons. This
chapter begins our examination of the foundations of the Australian
political system and explains how the Australian Constitution
influences national politics and society.

Item Type:	Book Section
Authors/Creators:	Eccleston, RG
Publisher:	Pearson Education Australia
Additional Information:	© 2006 Pearson Education Australia
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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