The Liberals

(Paperback)

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Description

The period from 1983 to 1993 was devasting for the Australian Liberal Party. This period saw the worst electoral record for the Liberals since they were formed in 1909. In electoral terms, this constitutes a crisis. But the problems are broader and deeper than electoral defeats. The Party's organization is moribund; its members have abandoned in droves; it has suffered from the political manoeuverings of its coalition partner, the National Party; its policies have not been attractive to the voters; and it has undergone a series of leadership changes at a rate never seen before. This book analyzes the Liberal Party. After a decade of unprecedented defeats, the Liberals are in a crisis. This study explains why, analyzes the components of the party and its history which have led to the crisis, and offers an agenda for reform.

Author Bio

A close observer of the Liberarl Party, DEAN JAENSCH has been watching and commenting on Australian politics for over 20 years. As Reader in Politics at Flinders University and author, co-author and editor of more than 20 books and monographs on Australians politics, he is well suited to present this important and timely critical review of what was one the dominant party in Australian politics.