- Australian Politics
- Introduction
- Social movements in Australia provide democracy ideologies to its citizens. It develops the world of democracy in such a way that the citizens get to understand the political system and the right leaders to vote for, in other words through social movements citizens are able to make more informed decisions when it comes to voting for leaders into governance (Melissa, 2010). The movements advocates for democracy to eradicate the social gap between the rich and the poor and advocate for equal opportunities at both the social and the political arena (Melissa, 2010).
- The social movements use ideologies mechanism to ensure citizens listen and follow their lead. Ideologies involve the society beliefs on how the communities function, in comparison to the rest of the world and what can bee done to achieve the preferred set social goals and objectives. Ideologies have been seeking for transformation of the political arena to incorporate western and the international culture (Borowski, Hudson & Mccormack, 2011 ).
- Liberalism advocates to face the political leaders, whenever politicians faced with political scandals the liberal, social movement steps in to ensure the leader faces the charges accordingly and that public funds not used in vain. The movement protected any citizens who has been violated rights. the movement affirms that freedom of a person is the most liable way of effectively maximizing economic output and efficiency (Borowski, et al., 2011). The main ideology that pushes forward liberals include; partition of powers, loyalty to a person's freedom, separation of powers, trust in progress, believe in reason and limited governance. The liberals believe that the unseen market function to boost public interest leading to a detectable hand of the government that affirms the markets operates freely boosting economic growth of the country. Liberals recommend constant government intervention in different sectors of the economy to avoid exploitation (Borowski, et al., 2011).
- Socialism concept is in complete contrast to liberalism as socialist believe that human beings are social beings and that economic achievements, should be equally shared amongst people. Capitalist is against this concept claiming that it slows economic developments (Bramble & Minns, 2005). The three ideologies if combined a well structured economy emerges where people work hard but socialize freely for personal and state success. Main ideologies of socialism includes the community significance, rationalism, significance of working together, believe in common ownership of public resources and rationalism. Social democracy has been on the rise, to ensure people do not take advantage of socialism and become lazy instead of building the nation (Bramble & Minns, 2005).
- The right/left concept has made social movements follow the capitalist nation initiative as this will give positive economic outcome in the country. Social movements have more than once ensured the rights of the citizens respected, and politician should not take advantage of citizens vulnerability for personal benefits. A politician expected to respect the promises he made while campaigning of entering the government for personal benefits (Maddison & Martin, 2010).
- Women social movements are also on the rise in Australia as the women advocate to get equal opportunity in the political arena. The movement is strongly against gender biases thus, the movement mobilize women to join politics and acquire a position in the government. For years, women have been known to be discriminated from campaigning for governmental seats perception being politics suits men better. The women movement also ensure women are not oppressed in their work place, and that similar treatment provided to them s their male counterparts (Tim, 2010).
- Children movements are also on the rise. Although the movements, mainly protects the child from oppression and overworking the movements also offer forums and seminars to the children to teach them about the political climate of the country (Tim, 2010). A child who grasp the teachings with ease is likely to grow to a well mannered adult, aware of the political environment and ready to make informed decisions when elections takes place. Children at a tender age get to learn the importance of social movements thus, when they become adults making informed voting decision becomes easier. Furthermore, children become conversant with the political environment, thus building a better future leaders (Tim, 2010).
- The social movements are on the rise in Australia and they contribute well in development of democracy in peoples minds. The citizens over the years have learnt to respect the social movements and that follow their lead respectively. The social movements have been a powerful influence in the political arena as the citizens prefer to listen to strategies set by the movement rather than, trust a politician whom immediately after entering the office no promise achieved whatsoever (Short & Gunstone, 2011).
- The movements have installed hopes in people’s minds that democracy is the way to go as through democracy their say can be heard, and the power of their vote will put their favourable candidate to the office (Short & Gunstone, 2011). Therefore, through democracy the citizens’ voice is able to be heard. Political parties in Australia have thus advocated to join social movements to ensure they gain popularity thus winning becomes easier. Neverthless, the social movements require that the political leader who wins the elections performs according to promises made. Therefore, the political leaders joining the social movements ensure they perform as promised to enhance economic and social welfare (Short & Gunstone, 2011).
- In Australia, the social movements are highly respected, and the citizens look up to the movements for guidance and as the best leader that suits them, as much as the political parties have tried to be influential to citizens the social movements have a better power in promoting and boosting democracy, thus motivating more people to become interested to political activities.
- The political parties that have been active in the political field of Australia have indicated a fine progressive history. Positive advances in the field of politics in Australia have been recognized. The political parties have not shown great democratic participation for the past years. Social movements have demonstrated great advances in democratic participation. Actions of social movements means that people join and especially in a group and claim for change (Bramble & Minns, 2005). There have been significant achievements of political movements in gaining progressive reforms. The driving force of social movements comes from well organized actions of the common people. Social movements have been driving agendas that claim for change in Australia for the past years. Many of the social movements have won their battle of claiming positive change in various departments of the government. However, some have not been successful in seeing change being implied but they never lose hope (Bramble & Minns, 2005).
- The social movements contributed much to the stop of the slave trade in Australia. Many social movement groups joined hand and campaigned for slavery trade termination in Australia (Diani, 2010). Through social movements, the government of Australia was convinced to offer universal education to all citizens through the convention of social movements. Social movements won the battle of being allowed to hold peaceful demonstrations. Through the social movements, people were given the right to hold strikes which they were denied for many years in the history of Australia. The women rights have been achieved through the participation of social movements in campaigning for change of how women are treated by men. Another field that have acquired positive change through social movements is the environmental protection and conservation. The strategy of how the movements operates have resulted into various shift in the operation of democracies in Australia (Melissa, 2010).
- Social movements provide more hope for democratic participation in Australia because they have shown significant impact on their claiming for democracy in the past years. The history of Australia indicates that much struggle has been put by social movements for the rights of people to be implemented by the law. The truth is that many of the convicts who were arrested in the early time became political prisoners (Merrindahl & Maddison, 2010). The history of Australia indicates that the Charstists always campaigned for the extension of the right to vote. This shows how the groups campaigned for democracy to prevail in the government of Australia. Another social movement group that showed significant positive results in their campaign claiming for democracy is the British naval mutineers. This group took a stand against the flogging of sailors who actually contributed to most of the on-board inhuman standards. The Irish rebels campaigned for political separation for Ireland from England. This campaign of Irish rebels brought up the foundation of the political struggle in the government of Australia that exists even in these days (Merrindahl & Maddison, 2010).
- The inequality and the destruction of natural conservatives have been extensive in Auatralia. However, the contribution of social movements to the campaigns of saving the environment has indicated a significant win. There is something to celebrate about the work done by the social movements in the fight of conserving the environment (Muir & Peetz, 2010). Most of the significant achievements have come as a result of mass actions of the social movement groups. A good example of the social movement in the fight of conserving the environment was on 1960s. Many social movement demonstration occurred in Australia with the main objective being opposing the Vietnam War. Another example of social movements participating in the fight to save the environment was in 1982 when thousands of people campaigned to save the destruction of Franklin River from human pollution. Inn early 1980s, many people participated in social movements to campaign for anti-nuclear actions in the country of Ausralia. All these campaigns resulted from a mass of people who made sure that they were environment friends (Muir & Peetz, 2010).
- For the past years, the political parties have not been able to participate with a full commitment in the fight for claiming democracy in Australia. Without the commitment, the political parties have failed in producing the targeted structural changes required to free the country of Australia from exploitation of people and the entire environment. It is true to say that political groups have abused the democracy of the whole country. Politicians have also played a major part in abusing the democracy of the people of Australia. There have been dictators participating in retrogressive acts towards the gaining democracy in Australia.
- The social movements are the only ones that have shown great contribution in the democratic progression. Leading unionists which actually have the back-up of political strength have limited the strengths of achieving full democracy. For example, leading unionist in the public sectors have stopped women in achieving the same right as men in various industries (Nicholas, 2011). Although many social movements lacks the potential resources required to fully demonstrate their power for changing democracy status in Australia, they have shown there is great hope of participation.This clearly shows that the political parties cannot offer great hope for democratic participation in Australia (Nicholas, 2011).
- Conclution
- Australian social movements are the hope that Australia can depend on for fighting for democracy of its people. This is because many of the politicians are corrupt and their only intention is to gain personal advantage (Purser & Diggerson, 2010). Australian trade unions have demonstrated progressive struggles that have helped in shaping the whole community at large in Australia. History have demonstrated that social movements have played a big role in ensuring that there is democracy in the country of Australia (Purser & Diggerson, 2010). The participation of political parties in claiming for democracy has been very minimal as demonstrated through history. This clearly shows that social movements is the only hope for in democracy participation in Australia.
- References
- Borowski, A., Hudson, R & Mccormack, J. (2011). Elder Participation and Senior Power in Australian Electoral Politics.Australian Journal of Politics & History, 57, 262-266.
- Bramble, T & Minns, J. (2005). Whose Streets? Our Streets! Activist Perspectives on the AustralianAnti-capitalist Movement. SocialMovement Studies, 4, 105-121.
- Diani, M. (2010). Struggling Movementsin Dubious Opportunities - An Afterword to 'Surviving Neoliberalism: The Persistence of Australian Social Movements'. SocialMovement Studies, 9, 229-233.
- Maddison, S & Martin, G. (2010). Introduction to 'Surviving Neoliberalism: The Persistence of Australian Social Movements'. SocialMovement Studies, 9, 101-120.
- Melissa, B. (2010). A Hard Culture? Religion and Politics in Turn-of-the-Century Australian History. Australian Journal of Politics& History, 56, 55-65.
- Merrindahl, A & Maddison, S. (2010). Damaged but Determined: The AustralianWomen's Movement, 1996-2007. Social Movement Studies, 9, 171-185.
- Muir, K & Peetz, D. (2010). Not Dead Yet: The Australian Union Movement and the Defeat of a Government.Social Movement Studies, 9, 215-228.
- Muir, K & Peetz, D. (2010). Not Dead Yet: The Australian Union Movementand the Defeat of a Government. SocialMovement Studies, 9, 215-228.
- Nicholas, B. (2011). Student, Expert, Peacekeeper: Three Versions of International Engagement. AustralianJournal of Politics & History, 57, 34-52.
- Purser, K & Diggerson, H. (2010). The AustralianYear of Women in Local Government: 2010 and beyond. Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, 7, 221-229.
- Short, D & Gunstone, A. (2011). Rejoinder to Tim Rowse, 'The Reforming State, the Concerned Public and Indigenous Political Actors'.AustralianJournal of Politics & History, 57, 262-266.
- Tim, R. (2010). The Reforming State, the Concerned Public and Indigenous Political Actors. sJournal of Politics & History, 56,66-81.
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