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On the Deep Unsustainability of Actually Existing Liberal Democracy
A number of worrying recent reports indicate that the Earth is undergoing interlinked social, economic and ecological crises linked to intra- and inter-state inequality, financial instability and climate change. Past ‘solutions’ based on eco-development and sustainable development are being superseded by a focus on ‘sustainability’, a term that does not presume ‘development’ or ‘growth’ and appears to require deep integration across space, time, disciplines and interests. The emergence of sustainability poses tough questions for the theory and practice of liberal democracy, based as the latter on the principle of fragmentation including individualism, territorialism, nationalism and partisanship. This paper critically evaluates the adequacy of ‘actual existing liberal democracy’ from a sustainability perspective. Based on the case of Australia, it highlights the deep unsustainability of the country’s constitutional founding and political economy and how such unsustainability is periodically renewed via the structure and operation of parliamentary and executive government.
History
Publication title
Proceedings of the 2014 Australian Political Studies Association Annual ConferencePagination
1-19Department/School
School of Social SciencesPublisher
Australian Political Studies AssociationPlace of publication
AustraliaEvent title
Australian Political Studies Association ConferenceEvent Venue
SydneyDate of Event (Start Date)
2014-09-28Date of Event (End Date)
2014-10-01Rights statement
Copyright unknownRepository Status
- Restricted