Beyond the two party system

by Ian Marsh

The demands placed on western governments have increased exponentially in recent years, but the fundamental structure of most of these governments - the two party system - has not. Governments are now not only required to be competitive in the global economy, the societies they represent have changed, becoming culturally and ethnically diverse. Is the two party regime able to accommodate the multiple interests of a diverse society and address the policy demands of economic competitiveness? Can it foster real political participation? Ian Marsh's challenging book suggests not, and outlines the ways in which politics might change to meet these new demands and achieve genuine participatory democracy. . Looking at Australia within a broad theoretical framework, the book argues that government can play a key role in building a collaborative and competitive society. The book has a broad historical sweep, exploring the nature of citizenship from the beginnings of the liberal-egalitarian projec