Australian Citizenship

Brian Galligan and Winsome Roberts

This lucid and accessible book invites the reader to think beyond simplistic answers to the question of what it means to be an Australian in 2004.

About this Title

What does it mean to be Australian? How has citizenship developed since Federation, given its British colonial origins?

Australians have much to celebrate, but also things to be ashamed of. Brian Galligan and Winsome Roberts compellingly argue that good citizenship depends on discernment of what is worthy of respect and pride and what is shameful in public life. In light of current controversies, such as the rights of refugees and the ongoing inequalities of Indigenous Australians, this contention becomes even more compelling and urgent.

Arguing against the view that citizenship is an imagined construct, the authors reveal the significance of citizenship to the everyday life of Australians. From an examination of the Federation debates and the design of Australia’s constitutional system, they move on to look at the practices in local communities that make up the lived experience of what it is to be an Australian. They reject as impoverished the version of citizenship that is currently in vogue, arguing for an appreciation of citizenship that acknowledges our common language and shared ties to the land and restores a place for nationhood and patriotism. Along the way, they survey significant public debates about the republic, multiculturalism and human rights. This lucid and accessible book invites the reader to think beyond simplistic answers to the question of what it means to be an Australian in 2004.

Table of Contents

1. Australian Citizenship
2. Institutional Framework
3. Migration
4. Multiculturalism
5. Land and Heritage
6. Nationalism and Patriotism
7. Civics and Everyday Life
8. Aborigines
9. Women
10. Religion

About the Author

Brian Galligan is Professor of Political Science at the University of Melbourne. He has published widely on Australian politics and is known internationally for his work on federalism, the High Court and the Australian constitution.

Winsome Roberts has worked as an academic and policy analyst and has extensive experience in political engagement and local activism. She is currently a Research Fellow in the Department of Political Science at the University of Melbourne and specialises in the study of civil society, social capital and street-level politics.

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978-0-522-85094-9