What is Insider Anti-Elitism, and how has this discourse and practice influenced political debate in Australia since 1996?

“Insider Anti-elitism”, a term related to populism, was coined to describe an opposition to the university educated intellectual elites (Sawer, 2004) by those in a position of power and wealth who-- in their refusal to be browbeaten by the so-called ‘politically correct‘ left-wing academics, activists and journalists-- actively foster distrust and suspicion of said elites in order to gain political advantage. Insider Anti-Elitism is so entrenched in Australian political discourse that it will persist for many years to come.

Populism cultivates and encourages suspicion of intellectuals and public institutions such as universities. Proponents of populist politics often justify their position by claiming said intellectuals to be “contemptuous of the values of ordinary people and of the national interest”(Sawer, 2004) and this claim is central to the populist strategies (Sawer, 2005).

Right-wing populism provides the core to New Right policies in Australia from 1996 onwards. Whilst its usage and effects are not exclusive to conservatism, it is primarily the domain of right-leaning parties, such as the One Nation party, and the Liberal Party, who widened their traditional support base (Ward, 2007) in an attempt to appeal to the common man, in order to win votes and cultivate long-term grass-roots support.

Though Anti-Elitism is by no means limited to the political right –for example, the Labor Party’s Mark Latham urged the party to free itself of the grip of the new class elites and “get back to the suburbs”(Sawer, 2004)—it is clear that the staunchly social conservative philosophy of the majority of the modern Liberal party supports the view that the right has “a natural advantage on the discursive terrain prepared by neo-conservatives”(Sawer, 2004).

The Liberal party’s ‘ageing and declining membership’ (Ward, 2007 p146) is likely to be the reason behind their widening of traditional support base (from businessmen and farmers) in order to appeal to the common man, who was considered to have previously been more inclined to vote Labor. Not only did the Liberal party claim to support the ‘aussie battlers’, but --akin to the tactics of many talk radio DJ’s with similar modus operandi-- presented themselves in a manner that implied that, in a way, they were battlers too: 'Is there anything in contemporary Australian life more outrageous than the sight of the most powerful figures of Australian conservatism cloaking their well-nourished frames in the rags of the powerless?' (Keating, 2001).

The populist discourse portrays the elites as condescending, and “untrustworthy and parasitic” in stark contrast to the “virtuous and long-suffering people”(Sawer, 2005). Johnson (2004) asserts that Anti-Elitism is “contradictory and open to challenge”. Paul Keating succinctly conveyed the hypocrisy of modern conservatism in his speech at the election campaign launch on February 14, 1996, when he attacked the Liberal party’s philosophy, which “preaches the values of families and communities, while conducting a direct assault on them through reduced wages and conditions and job security”.

The political right often uses the anti-elitist ploy in an attempt to woo the working class and win votes. The common procedure is to claim to speak for the common man, deride the authenticity of the ethics espoused by the so-called ‘bleeding hearts’, and cast aspersions as to the motives of those who hold opinions and concerns which differ from those of the typical ‘man in the street’. These tactics often work very well. Carole Johnson (Associate professor of Politics at the University of Adelaide) asserts that John Howard had “argued that the Keating Government favoured politically correct, elite, special interests over those of "mainstream" Australians”. Bulbeck, (2005) also speaking from a female academic perspective, recalls Johnson’s words, saying “it is ‘a very strange Australia’ when Pauline Hanson can claim that ‘the most downtrodden person in the country is the white Anglo-Saxon male’ [and] the Prime Minister can depict himself as ‘the victim of elite opinion”.

Any concerns over civil liberties, human rights and equal opportunity are dismissed as simply stemming from an elite agenda (Sawer, 2004). For example, anyone actively concerned with multiculturalism and minority rights were considered to be the ‘Moral middle class’, expressing such views not for altruistic reasons, but that they pursued such causes merely in order to further their own career, feather their own nests, and acquire higher incomes.

Anti-elitism is fuelled by widespread resentment towards ‘intellectuals’ who –rightly or wrongly—“consider themselves to be superior” (Bulbeck, 2004), and the perceived tendency of these elites to harangue “Ordinary Australians” on various ‘hot topics’, such as multiculturalism and environmental issues (Bulbeck, 2004). Sawer (2004) also states that: “To raise issues of public standards and public values is to be accused of trying to demonstrate superiority over ordinary Australians” So, in this regard, anti-elitist populism is reminiscent of ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’ -- a term used to describe a levelling social attitude prevalent in several western countries -- in its attacks on what it considers to be the intellectual elites, drawing attention away from business elites (Sawer, 2004) who would stand to lose money if taxes were increased in order to subsidise the arts, education, and the welfare state. In light of this, this quote by Liberal Party’s John Howard in 1996 appears quite hypocritical: "If there’s one thing we need to get rid of in this country it is our tall poppy syndrome”.

It is believed by some (Bowring, 2007) that Anti-Elitism is on the wane. One could consider this view to be somewhat justified by some of the events of the past ten years. Notably the decline of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party and indeed the Liberal party’s defeat at the last election suggest that the populist rhetoric is not enough to sustain grass-roots loyalty in light of changing attitudes. Also, I concur with the view that the public is becoming increasingly aware of the fact that such mistrust of those considered to be ‘elites’ is often hypocritical. This is especially true in this case, as the proponents are themselves part of the elite-- and the public are waking up to the fact that anti-elitist rhetoric intentionally masks the true source of injustices, which are allowed to perpetuate by those reluctant to appear supportive of the welfare state and other contentious social issues.

However, I believe that in future, Anti-Elitism will still be a prevalent force in political discourse and practice, as it appears very much ingrained into the attitudes of Australia’s society. It is very politically lucrative for governments-- it certainly served the Liberal Party’s needs in order to ‘divide and rule’. In support of this view, Bulbeck (2005) cites “Australia’s long history of anti-intellectualism, the dark underbelly of mateship and egalitarianism” as a source from which Anti-Elitism is derived. Sparrow (2008) maintains that: “There remains a huge social base for a revival of the Right’s popular ‘Anti-Elitism’. It is certain that growing cynicism, resentment, and voter apathy, not to mention the increased blurring of edges between the philosophies of political parties --and the camouflaging of their true intent-- will continue to provide plenty of opportunities for people in positions of power to use populist rhetoric in order to exploit the anti-elitist sentiment for political and financial advantage.


References

Bowring, P. 2007. “Tall Poppies Flourish Down Under”. International Herald Tribune, Feb 26.
URL: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/26/opinion/edbowring.php (Accessed July 25th, 2008)

Bulbeck, C. 2005. “Speaking Truth to Power: Why Won't They Listen?”
TASA Conference Plenary Session – Professional Issues
Hobart 5-8 December 2005
URL: http://www.tasa.org.au/docs/TASAPlenaryChill%20Bulbeck.doc (Accessed July 25th, 2008)

Heywood, A. (2003) “Liberalism” in Political Ideologies: An Introduction. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Pp. 25-68.

Johnson, Carole (2004). “Anti-elitist discourse in Australia: International influences and comparisons”, pp. 117-136 in Marian Sawer and Barry Hindess (eds) “Us and Them: Anti-Elitism in Australia”. Perth: API Network

Keating, P. (1996) Election campaign launch. February 14th 1996.

Keating, P. (2001) The Australian. April 2001.

Sawer, M. (2004) Australian Financial Review.
URL: http://polsc.anu.edu.au/Power_of_Us_and_Them1.htm (Accessed July 25th 2008)

Sawer, M. (2005) “How Mr Fat became Ms Bleeding Heart: Market Populism and the Future of the University.” The Journal for the Public University, Volume 2: 2005
URL: http://www.publicuni.org/jrnl/volume/2/journal_2_fat.html (accessed July 25th 2008)

Sawer, M & Barry Hindess (eds), (2004) “Us and Them: Anti-Elitism in Australia”, Bentley, API Network

Sparrow, Jeff. (2008). “Fancy dancers rule in Rudd's summit of the elites.” URL: http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20080407-Rudds-unashamedly-elitist-2020-Summit.html (Accessed July 25th 2008)

Ward, Ian. Randall G. Stewart. (2007) Politics One. 3rd ed. Palgrave. Australia.


-- copyright LHT 2008--

Study Period 3 2008

Starting 1st September.

PLT120 - Introduction to Global Politics
PHI130 - Mind, Meaning, and Metaphysics
ENG110 - Introduction to English Literature
HST140 - The Making of Australia

This week, I have been mostly listening to: David Bowie

I recommend the best of David Bowie double cd, it is excellent:

*Particular favourites

CD1

01 - Space Oddity
02 - Changes
03 - Starman*
04 - Ziggy Stardust
05 - Suffragette City
06 - John, I'm Only Dancing
07 - The Jean Genie
08 - Drive in Saturday
09 - Life on Mars*
10 - Sorrow
11 - Rebel Rebel*
12 - Rock & Roll Suicide
13 - Diamond Dogs
14 - Knock on Wood
15 - Young Americans*
16 - Fame
17 - Golden Years*
18 - TVC 15*
19 - Sound & Vision*

CD2

01 - Heroes*
02 - Beauty & the beast*
03 - Boys keep swinging*
04 - D.J.*
05 - Alabama song
06 - Ashes to ashes*
07 - Fashion
08 - Scary monsters (and super creeps)*
09 - Under pressure (with Queen)*
10 - Wild is the wind*
11 - Let's dance*
12 - China girl
13 - Modern love
14 - Blue jean
15 - This is not America (with Pat Metheny)
16 - Dancing in the street (with Mick Jagger)
17 - Absolute beginners
18 - Day in day out

Huzzar

My favourite band, Supergrass, who recently toured the U.S. with the Foo Fighters, are coming to Brisbane on 2nd October. Excellent opportunity to take a break from studying! Haven't seen them live in so long....expect photos.

http://www.strangeones.co.uk/tour/index.htm