Essay On Australia Egalitarian Or Class Society

Egalitarianism in the perspective of political ideologies is noted to be a doctrine finding all individuals equal, in terms of their moral status, which invariably grants them equal opportunities and rights. Although absolute equality is quite difficult to achieve, egalitarians believe in treating one another with respect and equal status, where they gain what they deserve across social, political and economic positions (Chesters, 2019). Australia has been portrayed as egalitarian since its early history, where within the society the people treated as second class citizens failed to accept being inferior in any way. The refusal to be inferior differentiates the way Australia projects its values in comparison to its neighbors from the eastern hemisphere. The essay would entail views on to what extent the country has been deemed as egalitarian, while highlighting concepts and strategies of social inclusion. It would deduce measures of how people in the country have the necessary capabilities, opportunities and resources enabling their participation in the society.

 

It is prudent and safe to say that Australia encompasses an Egalitarian society. Australians have tried to alleviate inferiority feelings in various ways. In sports, Australians try and take the difficult alternative of improving themselves. Their attitude has consequently has led the country to achieve more capita in sport than other nations. Australia has won more gold medals in Olympics as compared to other nations, despite having drawn talent from a small population. Australia succeeds for the reluctance in accepting being less than anyone else, where they would train themselves instead to become better and lifting the overall standard (Chesters, 2019) Fans also appreciate the abilities of an ‘underdog’ rather than complying to appreciating the high ranker’s abilities. This belief encourages underrated talents to prove themselves even more. In arts, Australians try to creatively avoid being inferior. They refuse to conform where quality comparisons or rankings are arduous to be made. They embrace the idea of not being better or worse, but unique. The country therefore nourishes creativity instead of merely refining common styles. Despite English being the national language in the country, certain words have been regarded typically for Australian usage. In comparison to other English speakers, they tend to be formal (Hlavac et al., 2018). Individuals in this country use similar language while communicating with an elder person, a boss, a foe or a friend. In Australian educational institutes, group work is considered primary wherein classes in this context remain student-centered. In entails how students do not learn from teachers as much as they learn from one another (Chesters, 2019). Even if its not an ultimate driving force, it can be productive and beneficial where forceful instructions are not mandated.

 

Even though Australians appear to be highly critical of their nation in front of international audience, they would never champion foreign cultures to be superior than their own. They blame the critics or general public instead for not appreciating quality work. Ironically, this highlights their perspective of elitism that makes them fearful of celebrating the country in the first place (Hlavac et al., 2018). Being afraid of patriotism’s supremacist connotations, they appear to be critical of their culture, but even more so when a lack of patriotism causes their culture to not support them. Canberra, Australia’s capital city has an urban design exhibiting egalitarian sentiments than other cities designed by communist regimes. The preservation of primary real-estate for the use of public, land reserved for public access and car parks instead of selling of tops of water frontage or hills to developers, all determine how the city does not have a culture that is class conscious. The Parliament house has been designed to reflect the national spirit of Australia, demonstrating the community to portray more power than the government.

 

Social inclusion is the presence of resources and capabilities to learn or participate in training and education, work or participate in employment, engage to connect with individuals or participating in cultural, local or civic activities and having a voice that would influence decisions affecting them (Chesters, 2019). Australia has been linked closely with the development of the law of human rights, since 1948 and Doc Evatt in presidential position (Triggs, 2013).  Australia has been a part of seven key treaties of human rights such as International Covenant on Political and Civil rights, Convention on child rights, elimination of discrimination towards women, combating racial discrimination, convention against torture and so on. Under the agreements, the Australian government cannot take actions breaching the human rights. However, despite the active commitment, Australia does not implement the rights with equal vigour in the national laws. As per parliamentary sovereignty, no treaties can be directly applicable by courts unless executed by legislation. Successive parliaments do not implement the primary treaties involving civil, political, social, cultural rights, for instance, despite these treaties being scheduled in the “AHRC act” and benchmarks their responsibility in monitoring compliance (Triggs, 2013). The disconnect between international laws and national laws, makes it difficult to implement rights for citizens in the country. Instead of a constitutional approach for rights protection, institutions employed by the government are parliament, courts and judiciary in forming common law, commission of Australian human rights.

 

Social inclusion denotes values underpinning work at the Australian commission of human rights, developed in 1986 where participation in equal empowerment and opportunities are highlighted (Triggs, 2013). It includes application of anti-discrimination laws dedicated to disability, social justice, age, Aboriginal and Torres Islanders, gender and race. They respond effectively to racial vilification, apply measures for cyber-hate and bullying in schools or workplaces. Court proceedings are intervened where laws are examined to propose improvements. Research is conducted for proposing new standards such as women treatment in “Australian defense forces”. National enquiries are conducted for tending concerns like wrist X rays for determining the age of different Indonesian children to be asylum seekers. Education regarding human rights is levied for improving awareness, and understanding rights in the community.

 

Australia can be considered to be an egalitarian society. It is because of how the systems, structures and societal lives remain adopted by the country. They have persisted for quite some time, but their existence is not completely certain in the future. The uncertainty arises from how the middle or upper class can be prompted to be exploiting the lower classes wherein systems in the country remain subjected to change. It might result in providing unequal chances for people growing up in this nation. But Australia should continue to be socially inclusive and nurture human rights to combat essential differences. The ridicule of social positions occurring widely in the country forces individuals to use methods of dealing with inferiority.

 

Chesters, J. (2019). Egalitarian Australia? Associations between family wealth and outcomes in young adulthood. Journal of Sociology, 55(1), 72-89. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1440783318777293

 

 

Hlavac, J., Gentile, A., Orlando, M., Zucchi, E., & Pappas, A. (2018). Translation as a sub-set of public and social policy and a consequence of multiculturalism: The provision of translation and interpreting services in Australia. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 2018(251), 55-88. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl-2018-0004

 

 

Triggs, G. (2013). Social inclusion and human rights in Australia. Chain Reaction Foundation. 1 (chainreaction.org.au)