The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment. – Robert Maynard Hutchins, educator (1899-1977)
What Is Politics and Why Does It Matter?
- The Five Questions to Ask Those in Power
- What Is Politics?
- Why Study Politics? (Monash University)
- Democracy2025 – the University of Canberra, the Museum of Australian Democracy and the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis audit the strengths and weaknesses of Australian democracy.
- Feb 04, 2002: Why Politics Matters: A Case Study – Public Liability Insurance
- Nov 28, 1948: Robert Menzies: Politics As An Art – decades after its publication, Menzies’ words ring true in this age of spin and professional politics.
Key Terms
This is a very select list of key terms relevant to parliamentary democracies such as Australia. It doesn’t pretend to be a comprehensive list. Rather, it represents some of the key terms that I have come to see as the ones most likely to cause confusion.
Confusion often arises because Australia’s liberal democracy is built around a constitutional monarchy and the British Westminster parliamentary system, but with an elected upper house and the American federal structure grafted onto it.
- Liberal Democracy
- Constitutional Monarchy
- Parliamentary Democracy
- Westminster System
- Separation of Powers
- Federalism
- Representative Government
- Responsible Government
- The difference between ‘Government’ and ‘Parliament’
- Minority Government
- Executive Government
- The Public Service
- Separation of Church and State
Historical Documents
Australia
- Advance Australia Fair – the words of the Australian National Anthem
- Australian Citizenship – Immigration Department leaflet on citizenship (2004)
- An Australian Compact – booklet by the late Donald Horne on Australian values (2002)
Humour
Related items on Democracy and Power
- February 16, 2016: Another Good Definition Of Politics
- January 2, 2014: GreenPeace Activist Colin Russell Arrives Home After Russian Detention
- December 10, 2013: Eulogy For The Ages: Obama’s Soaring Rhetoric At Mandela’s Memorial Service
- November 29, 2013: Education Ministers Speak Out On Pyne’s School Funding Announcement
- November 4, 2013: Car Industry Report Predicts Economic Devastation If Government Assistance Ends
- October 26, 2013: The State Of The Federation: Ted Mack
- August 6, 2012: Tony Abbott Speech On Free Speech
- December 17, 2011: Getup! Reviews Its Year
- April 4, 2011: So Much For Parliament In Queensland
- February 3, 2011: Social Media As A Tool For Protest
- November 4, 2010: Giving Substance To The Words
- March 31, 2010: Tony Abbott: ‘We All Have To Live With Shit’
- April 19, 2008: Kevin Rudd’s Opening Address to the 2020 Summit
- January 29, 2008: Terrorism, Policing & The Media: Controversial Keelty Speech
- November 12, 2007: Whitlam-Fraser Call For Strengthening Of Ministerial Accountability
- June 13, 2007: Tony Blair: “The Media Is A Feral Beast, Tearing People To Pieces”
- October 28, 2006: Business Council Calls For New Commonwealth-States Contract
- October 28, 2006: BCA Booklet: Reshaping Australia’s Federation
- December 22, 2005: Victorian Local Government Association State Budget Submission
- October 22, 2005: Apathy And Anger: John Faulkner On Our Modern Democracy
- October 6, 2005: American Democracy Is In Grave Danger: Al Gore
- September 28, 2005: Brendan Nelson Speaks To John Laws
- September 27, 2005: Mark Latham’s Public Lecture On Modern Politics
- March 28, 2005: Business Council Lobbies On Infrastructure
- September 28, 2004: Anglican And Catholic Archbishops Attack ALP’s Schools Policy
- September 7, 2004: Howard And Latham Address RSL Annual Conference
- February 9, 2004: Farmers Lobby Group ‘Very Disappointed’ With Aspects Of FTA
- February 5, 2004: Australian Citizenship – Immigration Department Leaflet
- September 2, 2003: Simon Crean: Address To National Congress Of The RSL
- January 22, 2003: Australia “A Bit Lost” – Rick Farley
- July 10, 2002: Democracy And The Law Threatened By Howard Government: Burnside
- July 1, 2002: Donald Horne: An Australian Compact?
- April 24, 2002: Harry Evans: Time For Reformation Of The Australian Parliament
- February 4, 2002: Public Liability Insurance: Why Politics Matters
- November 5, 2001: Pressure Group Campaigns In The 2001 Federal Election
- April 21, 2001: A.M.A. At War With Wooldridge
- March 19, 2001: About The Women’s Electoral Lobby
- February 19, 2001: About The Australian Medical Association
- December 3, 2000: Melbourne Marches For Reconciliation
- November 15, 2000: Beating Up: Barrett Report On Police, Media & WEF Protests
- August 26, 2000: Pressure In Brighton
- November 26, 1999: Murdoch Group To Lobby Backbench MPs Over Digital TV
- November 1, 1999: Intense Lobbying of MPs Over Digital TV
- September 26, 1998: Women’s Electoral Lobby Form Guide: 1998 Federal Election
- February 20, 1998: Gareth Evans: Politics And The Media Circus
- February 5, 1998: Humour: Organisation Chart For Heaven
- February 5, 1998: Humour: International Organisational Charts
- May 23, 1987: In Defence Of Protests
- November 28, 1948: Robert Menzies: Politics As An Art
