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Evaluating the Success and Contribution of a Minor Party: the Case of the Australian Democrats

This article evaluates the success of the Australian Democrats, a minor party that gained parliamentary representation in federal politics from 1977 until 2008. The party's contribution to Australian democracy is analysed in three areas: electoral, organisational and parliamentary, according to a broader notion of success that incorporates a party's longer term impact on the processes and culture of politics. Somewhat ironically, factors that contributed to the Democrat's success also brought about its downfall: the party's organisation, its electoral performance, parliamentary focus and the balance of power position the party held in the Senate that allowed it to negotiate with the major players. Nevertheless, the Democrats' activities mobilised other minor parties and created a lasting expectation in the minds of Australians that the Senate is an important forum for legislative scrutiny—more than a mere ‘rubber stamp’.

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Detail Information
Series Title
Parliamentary Affairs
Call Number
-
Publisher
United Kingdom : Oxford University Press.,
Collation
-
Language
English
ISBN/ISSN
00312290
Classification
-
Content Type
-
Media Type
-
Carrier Type
-
Edition
-
Subject(s)
Australian Democrats
Australian democracy
Specific Detail Info
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Statement of Responsibility
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