Electoral behaviour (Australia)
Proposed to be offered next in 1998
Hyam Gold
12 points
* 2 hours per week
* Clayton
Objectives On successful completion of this subject students should be able to identify the most influential theoretical claims regarding the bases of electoral choice in Australia, Britain and the United States, to critically assess these theoretical claims, to highlight the electoral effects of contemporary social change, and to identify where Australia and Australians stand in relation to these theories and social changes.
Synopsis The subject studies the following topics: traditional sociological explanations of voting in Australia, Britain and the United States; the decline of class voting and older social cleavages and the rise of new social divisions; more recent socio-psychological models of voting; political socialisation; party dealignment and growing electoral volatility; and `rational man' explanations of voting changes, including issue-based, ideology-based, and performance assessment models of voting choice.
Assessment Essay (6000 words): 50%
* Examination (3 hours): 50%
Recommended texts
Harrop M and Miller W L Elections and voters Macmillan, 1987
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