Central to Australia’s cultural and political identity is the notion of a “fair go”. But recent elections, including in the United States, have highlighted the challenge of maintaining shared norms and support for institutions when many voters don’t believe they’re getting a “fair go”.
Australia has maintained a reasonably high satisfaction with democracy. However, this satisfaction is slipping.
A recent study, published by the Australian National University in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs Strengthening Democracy Taskforce, explored this issue further. It analysed how perceptions of income inequality relate to satisfaction with democracy.
It found concerns about income inequality in Australia are strongly related to dissatisfaction with democracy. This suggests Australia’s satisfaction with democracy is at risk. It may erode further if voters think the major parties aren’t sufficiently responsive to the economic pressures they are under.
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The unpalatable bit for many, particularly young men, is the social progressivism of these parties. I see it time and time again: guys who would be easy Greens voters based on their economic and environmental policies don’t take them seriously because their perception is that left-wing politics is primarily focused on issues of gender and sexuality. They don’t consider these issues comparatively relevant and get attacked quite viciously online for this position which feeds into this broader alienation problem they are going through due to the shift away from traditional gender roles that would have given their lives meaning. Feeling alienated by the left, these guys drift right towards groups that validate their feelings and welcome them.
I don’t necessarily think this is a completely fair perception of The Greens, but the reality is that we live in an age where young people’s views are heavily influenced by their social media algorithms. And if those algorithms are constantly feeding them culture war shit , particularly from the US, then it is understandable that they feel this way. Currently, I don’t see an organised attempt by left to combat this problem, nor even an admission that we have agency over it. The focus still just seems to be on blaming the right for manipulating these young men.