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Class voting, social change, and the left in Australia, 1943-96

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 11:41 authored by Weakliem, DL, Western, M
The relationship between class and voting choices has been the subject of controversy in recent years, especially in connection with the apparent decline of the traditional left. This paper examines class voting in Australia, focusing on three major issues: (1) changes in the overall strength of class voting (2) realignment, or changes in the relative political positions of the classes (3) the connection between the strength of class voting and support for Labor. It finds that (1) there is a decline in 'general' class voting (2) much of this decline involves a realignment of certain middle class groups, but there is no support for the popular idea that class alignments have become more complex (3) there is no connection between the strength of class voting and Labor performance. Our results cast doubt on accounts that regard the electoral difficulties of left parties as a symptom of the decline of class.

History

Publication title

British Journal of Sociology

Volume

50

Issue

4

Pagination

609-630

ISSN

0007-1315

Department/School

School of Social Sciences

Publisher

Routledge

Place of publication

London

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in philosophy and religious studies

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