Legitimation and Trust

Title
Legitimation and Trust
Publication Date
2005
Author(s)
Archer, JR
Editor
Editor(s): Graham Young and Graham Maddox
Type of document
Book Chapter
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Kardoorair Press
Place of publication
Armidale, Australia
Edition
1
UNE publication id
une:1018
Abstract
This chapter looks at recent issues in Australian public life with regard to their impact on public trust, and therefore on the basis of political legitimacy and democratic politics in Australia.I first outline some general points about legitimacy and trust. Secondly, I examine briefly trust in theory and practice, and analyse some issues in which the trustworthiness of the Howard Government has been questioned. Some general comments are offered on Prime Minister John Howard's relationship with the Australian media and on wedge politics, and on the Australian state as perceived within Howard's neo-liberal ideology. A conclusion is suggested that the level of support for politicians or policies is not necessarily the best litmus test for trust. Indeed the corruptions of public life can sometimes be understood as the unintended consequences of political populism. Populism is itself a threat to political legitimacy and democratic politics.
Link
Citation
Legitimation and the State, p. 89-108
ISBN
0908244657
Start page
89
End page
108

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