Australia's Democracy: A Short History by John Hirst

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges. Dust jacket has some light creasing at top edge and at spine. Interior and binding are excellent.

Australians did not invent political democracy, but they have created a unique form of it.

Australia's Democracy tells the story of the democracy Australians have made. It's a story that traces the growth of democratic rights and freedoms from convict times until the present. It charts the transition from the era when racism limited political rights to today's concern that everyone's human rights be respected from the demand that governments be free to carry out the people's wishes to the current desire to see all government power checked and controlled.

It examines notable Australian innovations like the secret ballot, the basic wage and the practice of democratic manners.

Australia's Democracy also explores the oddities of Australia's democratic society - one where there has been strong opposition to military conscription but not to compulsory voting where egalitarianism and the belief in 'a fair go' has not led to a universal welfare system nor prohibited the growth of private schools where politicians have been held in contempt but governments have been competent and efficient where the people have been scornful of British snobbishness but loyal to a British monarch and where men have been keen about mateship, leaving women to take citizenship seriously. (book flap)