eprintid: 32986
rev_number: 13
eprint_status: archive
userid: 3458
dir: disk0/00/03/29/86
datestamp: 2017-04-13 07:02:14
lastmod: 2021-08-27 08:37:54
status_changed: 2017-04-13 07:02:14
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Te Wierik, Alicia
title: Taking a fast track to the demise of democracy?
ispublished: unpub
subjects: CommunicationLanguageCulture
subjects: FOR_2008_120500
subjects: FOR_2008_160600
keywords: democracy, Victoria, Grand Prix, car racing, Albert Park Reserve, Melbourne, urban planning, citizens, empowerment, participation, involvement, responsible citizenship, politics, 1990s, political parties, Liberal-National coalition, democratic practice
note: Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
abstract: This thesis investigates different styles of government which accord different
opportunities for participation of 'power to the people'. An understanding of
democratic theory is thus essential as perspectives on democracy illustrate numerous
styles of democratic practice and opportunities for citizen involvement. While an
object of this theses is to locate styles of democracy used by modern liberal
governments, the focus of the research explores the exercise of responsible
citizenship. Democratic behavioural techniques of the citizen are carefully examined
both in theory and practice. The case being made is that citizens, accustomed to a
participatory style of democratic government, have been trained in the 'arts of
participation' to act as a caretaker of both their lives and environment. With a shift in
the style of government towards an elitist democratic approach, practised by the
Kennett Government, the responsible citizen, as caretaker, is excluded from
government decision-making processes. In response to the closing off of participatory
mechanisms in favour of the elitist style of government, the responsible citizen, is
turned into a person engaging in acts of civil disobedience in order to maintain his or
her vigilance over the lives and environment of his or her community.
date: 1995
date_type: submitted
full_text_status: public
pages: 83
institution: Victoria University of Technology
department: Faculty of Arts, Department of Urban and Social Policy
thesis_type: honours
thesis_name: other
coversheets_dirty: FALSE
citation:   Te Wierik, Alicia  (1995) Taking a fast track to the demise of democracy?  Honours thesis, Victoria University of Technology.   
document_url: https://vuir.vu.edu.au/32986/1/TAKING%20A%20FAST%20TRACK%20TO%20THE%20DEMISE%20OF%20DEMOCRACY%20-%20Alicia%20te%20Wierik%20nosignature.pdf