THE DEMISE OF `COUNTRYMINDEDNESS': NEW PLAYERS OR CHANGING VALUES IN AUSTRALIAN RURAL POLITICS

In: POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY QUARTERLY, Band 11, Heft 5, S. 430-448

Abstract

AITKIN'S ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONAL PARTY DEPICTS IT AS AN IDEOLOGICALLY BASED PARTY, BORN OF A PAST POLITICAL CULTURE THAT PITTED THE COUNTRY AGAINST THE CITY. AITKIN ASSERTED THAT THE PARTY'S ELECTORAL FORTUNES WERE LIKELY TO DECLINE AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT THAT DEMOGRAPHIC AND HENCE SOCIAL CHANGE WAS HAVING ON THE COUNTRYMINDEDNESS ETHOS THAT HAS UNPERPINNED THE PARTY'S ELECTORAL SUCCESS SINCE THE 1920. THIS PAPER EXAMINES AITKIN'S THESIS BY ANALYSING THE NATIONAL PARTY'S PERFORMANCE IN SIX NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTORATES IN RECENT FEDERAL ELECTIONS, AND CONSIDERS THE IMPACT THAT DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL CHANGE HAS HAD ON THE PARTY'S ELECTORAL FORTUNES.