The Politics of Identity in Australia

The Politics of Identity in Australia
ISBN-10
0521586720
ISBN-13
9780521586726
Category
Biography & Autobiography
Pages
238
Language
English
Published
1997-06-30
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Author
Ed. Stokes

Description

Issues of identity are central to many historical and current debates in Australia. This superb collection of essays represents a significant rethinking of received ideas on identity, and reveals how issues of identity lie at the heart of Australian political thought, and form the foundation of Australian society and culture. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the political discourse surrounding Australian identity through key themes including identity theory, the manipulation of identity for political ends, gender and sexuality, immigration and national identity, citizenship and Aboriginality, and literature and film. The book rejects many of the assumptions underlying contemporary political debates, including the promulgation of a singular national identity in historical fact or as a political goal. This is a thought-provoking study of identity, its links with nationalism, and its potentially divisive effects.

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