The Making of a Party System: Minor Parties in the Australian Senate

Description

Minor parties have come a long way in Australia. From an era where there were no minor parties in the national parliament, they have become crucial players in shaping government policy and the political debate. This book charts the rise of minor parties in the Australian Senate since the end of the Second World War and constructs an analytical framework to explain how they became the powerful actors they are today. It shows that there has been a change in the type of minor party elected. Rather than be created as a result of a split in a major party, newer minor parties have been mobilised by broad social movements with the aim of advancing specific policy agendas. By shedding light on these parties, the book shows how minor parties have impacted the Australian political system and how they look set to remain an important component of governance in the future.

Dr Zareh Ghazarian is a Lecturer in Politics in the School of Social Sciences at Monash University. He holds a BSc and BA from Deakin University and a BA (Hons) and PhD in Political Science from Monash University. He is a leading commentator on politics and appears regularly on national and international television and radio. Dr Ghazarian's teaching and research interests include elections, institutions of governance, political leadership and comparative politics. He has published widely in academic journals and is co-author of Australian Politics for Dummies (2010, Wiley and Sons, Brisbane).