Race, Ethnicity, and the Participation Gap : : Understanding Australia's Political Complexion / / Juliet Pietsch.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter EBOOK PACKAGE COMPLETE 2019 English
• VerfasserIn: Pietsch, Juliet ,
• Place / Publishing House: Toronto : : University of Toronto Press, , [2019]; ©2018
• Year of Publication: 2019
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (224 p.)

Race, Ethnicity, and the Participation Gap begins with the argument that political institutions in settler and culturally diverse societies such as Australia, the United States, and Canada should mirror their culturally diverse populations. Compared to the United States and Canada, however, Australia has very low rates of immigrant and ethnic minority political representation in the Commonwealth Parliament, particularly in the House of Representatives. The overall existence of racial hierarchies within formal political institutions represents an inconsistency with the democratic ideals of representation and accountability in pluralist societies. Drawing on findings from the United States, Canada, and Australia, Juliet Pietsch reveals that the lack of political representation in Australia is significant when compared to the United States and Canada, revealing a serious democratic deficit. Her book is devoted to exploring this central puzzle: why is it that, despite having a similar history to other settler countries, Australia shows such comparatively low rates of political participation among its immigrant and ethnic minority populations from non-British and European backgrounds? In addressing this crucial question, Race, Ethnicity, and the Participation Gap examines the impact of Australia's alternative path on the political representation of immigrants and ethnic minorities.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Figures and Tables -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Part One -- 1. Political Representation in Comparative Perspective -- 2. Representation: Comparisons with Canada and the United States -- 3. The Historical and Legal-Institutional Context -- Part Two -- 4. Elites and Political Representation -- 5. Pan-ethnic Identity and Political Behaviour -- 6. Home-Country Politics and Political Attitudes -- 7. Discrimination and Unequal Outcomes -- 8. Conclusion -- Appendices -- References -- Index