The Big Retreat From Australian Egalitarianism

By Fred Argy

Australia is in the throes of a major revaluation of its egalitarian values. Over the last couple of decades, successive governments have been steadily forging new social norms and turning their backs on many old values once considered untouchable.

Argy looks at the retreat from egalitarianism, outlining some possible explanations, including:

· the argument that egalitarian fiscal policies are not sustainable today

· the argument that our social security system has become ineffective in achieving its own social objectives

· the bias of economists, who largely have a very blinkered ideologically view

· that Australians are rebelling against egalitarian views and the policy revolt is a reflection on this view.

· that financial globalisation has made egalitarian polices at a national level unsustainable

He looks at where we are heading and outlines a social reform agenda for the brave.

The article is an outline of his new book, Where to from here? - Australian Egalitarianism under Threat (Allen & Unwin, 2003)

(Dissent; no. 11, Autumn/Winter 2003)