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Around the world, democracies have seen a decline in social and political trust. Australian Social Attitudes IV: The Age of Insecurity is an in-depth look at the economic and geopolitical uncertainty that pervades Australian public discourse.

In the decade following the Howard administration, Australian politics has been defined by growing uncertainty, instability, and the emergence of popular disaffection with the political class, similar to what has been seen in the United States and Britain. Featuring contributions from Australia’s leading social scientists, this book explores the connection between insecurities and disaffection, and the ways in which they have manifested ­– in populist voting patterns, suspicions about climate science and hostilities to immigration.

A fascinating insight into what Australians think about contemporary political and social issues, this book is designed to present the public, media, and policymakers with up-to-date analysis of public opinion about important topics confronting Australian politics and society.

Dr Markus Hadler is professor of sociology at the University of Graz.

Dr Shaun Wilson is associate professor of sociology at Macquarie University.

List of figures
List of tables

Introduction: Australia in an age of insecurity by Shaun Wilson and Markus Hadler

Part 1: Australian insecurities
1. Trust and insecurity: is economic and political insecurity eroding trust? by Clive Bean
2. Minor and populist parties in Australia: does economic insecurity or a ‘representation gap’ drive support? by Shaun Ratcliff
3. Attitudes to immigration and asylum seekers in Australia: contested territory or an opportunity for right wing populism? by Shaun Wilson

Part 2: politics and political participation
4. Climate scepticism in Australia and in international perspective by Bruce Tranter
5. Gender, voting and women's representation in the 2016 Australian election by Katrine Beauregard
6. Battlers and aspirationals: the Liberal Party and the median voter by Ian McAllister and Toni Makkai
7. No steps further! Australian attitudes to ‘the right of free assembly’ in comparative perspective by Markus Hadler and Anja Eder
8. The collapse of polling as a way of asking about policy preferences: campaign polls in Australia and Britain by Murray Goot

Part 3: changing social institutions
9. Howard's queens in Whitlam's republic: explaining enduring support for the monarchy in Australia by Luke Mansillo
10. Marriage and happiness: changing Australian attitudes to marriage by Ann Evans and Edith Gray

About the contributors
Index

"It was refreshing to read about these issues through rigorous analysis based on actual data. This book is for students and teachers studying our near neighbours, but also for anyone keen on understanding Australians better."
Jane Higgins   Tui Totu Magazine