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On the Deep Unsustainability of Actually Existing Liberal Democracy

conference contribution
posted on 2023-05-23, 09:31 authored by Frederick GaleFrederick Gale
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 Past ‘solutions’ based on eco-development and sustainable development are being superseded by a focus on ‘sustainability’, a term that does not presume ‘development’ or ‘growth’ and appears to require deep integration across space, time, disciplines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 Conference

Pagination

1-19

Department/School

School of Social Sciences

Publisher

Australian Political Studies Association

Place of publication

Australia

Event title

Australian Political Studies Association Conference

Event Venue

Sydney

Date of Event (Start Date)

2014-09-28

Date of Event (End Date)

2014-10-01

Rights statement

Copyright unknown

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems

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