Culture wars and city politics, revisited: Local councils and the Australia Day controversy

Journal article


Busbridge, Rachel and Chou, Mark. (2020). Culture wars and city politics, revisited: Local councils and the Australia Day controversy. Urban Affairs Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078087420945034
AuthorsBusbridge, Rachel and Chou, Mark
Abstract

Conflicts rooted in questions of morality and values—so-called “culture wars”—pose difficult questions for local governance. Yet, when it comes to culture wars, local governments can be as politically active as other levels of government. This article explores the role of local government in the culture war surrounding Australia’s national holiday, Australia Day. We draw on the pioneering work of Elaine Sharp on urban politics, culture wars, and local government to document and analyze how Australian local governments have responded to the Australia Day controversy. Whereas Sharp’s typology is instructive, the ways in which the Australia Day debate has played out at the local level necessitate additional categories of responsiveness. These additional categories may contribute to the broader rejuvenation of studies on culture wars and local politics in light of new fronts in contemporary culture wars and the changing face of local government.

Keywordslocal politics; culture wars; local government responsiveness; Australia
Year2020
JournalUrban Affairs Review
PublisherSage
ISSN1552-8332
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/1078087420945034
Page range1 - 35
Research GroupSchool of Arts
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationUnited States of America
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