Australian Politics in the Twenty-First Century

The global political environment in the twenty-first century is proving dynamic and challenging for Australian policymakers and political institutions. Australian Politics in the Twenty-first Century contextualises the Australian political landscape through an institutional lens. It examines the legislative and judicial bodies, minor parties, lobby groups, the media and the citizenry, providing historical and contemporary facts, explaining political issues and examining new challenges.

The second edition has been updated to reflect the application of political theories in today's civic environment. New spotlight boxes highlight issues including marriage equality, COVID-19 and federalism, the inclusion of First Nations peoples in the political system, and gender equality in public policy. Short-answer, reflection, research and discussion questions encourage students to test and extend their knowledge of each topic and to clearly link theory to practice. Written in an accessible and engaging style, Australian Politics in the Twenty-First Century is an invaluable introduction to the Australian political system.

About the Authors

Dr Stewart Jackson is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney, Australia. Dr Joff Lelliott is a political scientist at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, specialising in Australian politics.

Dr Shannon Brincat is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Dr Josephine Bourne is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Queensland. Dr Nick Economou is an Australian political scientist and former Senior Lecturer in the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University, where he taught Australian politics and governance from 1992 to 2021.