Republicanism in Australia has generally been seen rather narrowly, as the seperation from the British monarchy and an Australain head of state. It has not been considered in terms of a republican political philosophy as a system of self-government, that is based on active and public-spirited citizenship requiring participation in political life.
According to this review by Inta Allegritti thinking on the nature of republicism has changed. Inta says that McKenna and Hudson point out that ?the Australian republic may need to be conceived in positive terms as a reform of our political system to enhance our commitment to the empowerment of citizens.? This places citizenship at the heart of political reform.
Hence we have two versions of citizenship. On the one hand, a liberal view based on legal status and links to liberal political institutions. Liberal citizenship is usually associated with individual rights such as freedom, equality, privacy, and private property.
The other view, a more republican one, highlights the way citizenship involves membership of a political community with a distinct culture and specific history, which shapes our personal and social development from childhood. This more republican understanding of citizenship stresses the importance of the citizen's shared history.
Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at December 6, 2004 08:48 PM | TrackBack