Australian National Identity
Identify and discuss the nature of national identity in Australia. How has/have national identify/ies been portrayed and maintained and which groups have been excluded?
The nature of Australian’s national identity has been an ongoing debate for many years. It involves how Australians see themselves, and how other countries view Australia as a whole. Throughout the country’s history, the national identity has not remained constant, and currently it is a debate to what Australian’s true national identity is. As the original country to settle in Australia (excluding Aboriginals), British Culture has a strong influence in Australia. Australia was originally a colony of Britain, and therefore its national identity was very similar to that of an Englishman. Australia adopted the English language, government, religions, and even sports. Further, until the Second World War, the majority of all Australian trade was with the British. It is not hard to see why the British very heavily influenced Australian’s national identity in the 19th and early 20th century(3).
Australia is still a commonwealth of Britain and has allegiance to the monarchy. Australia relies on Britain for general support like the Royal Navy to protect its largest coastline in the world. Britain is sill a huge part of Australia’s history and culture, so it is hard to dismiss their current influence on the country’s national identity(5). However, many Australians want to diminish their tie to Great Britain, and become a republic with no connection to the monarchy at all. This shows the desire for Australians to have their own distinct national identity separate from ties to any other country. Australia has recently become very strong allies with the United States. The Prime Minister, John Howard, is often seen talking to the American President, George Bush, and supporting America in different policies and wars, like the war with Iraq. Our esteemed professor Tom Heenan described this
The nature of Australian’s national identity has been an ongoing debate for many years. It involves how Australians see themselves, and how other countries view Australia as a whole. Throughout the country’s history, the national identity has not remained constant, and currently it is a debate to what Australian’s true national identity is. As the original country to settle in Australia (excluding Aboriginals), British Culture has a strong influence in Australia. Australia was originally a colony of Britain, and therefore its national identity was very similar to that of an Englishman. Australia adopted the English language, government, religions, and even sports. Further, until the Second World War, the majority of all Australian trade was with the British. It is not hard to see why the British very heavily influenced Australian’s national identity in the 19th and early 20th century(3).
Australia is still a commonwealth of Britain and has allegiance to the monarchy. Australia relies on Britain for general support like the Royal Navy to protect its largest coastline in the world. Britain is sill a huge part of Australia’s history and culture, so it is hard to dismiss their current influence on the country’s national identity(5). However, many Australians want to diminish their tie to Great Britain, and become a republic with no connection to the monarchy at all. This shows the desire for Australians to have their own distinct national identity separate from ties to any other country. Australia has recently become very strong allies with the United States. The Prime Minister, John Howard, is often seen talking to the American President, George Bush, and supporting America in different policies and wars, like the war with Iraq. Our esteemed professor Tom Heenan described this
Cited: 1) Australia Sudies Centre Online. National Identity. http://www.petra.ac.id/asc/people/immigrants/national_identity.html 2) Carter, James. Dispossession, Dreams, and Diversity: Issues in Australian Studies. Australia: Pearson Education Australia, 2006 3) BBC News. David Cannadine. The big debate Down Under. 28 November 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4471284.stm 4) Robert Hughes, ‘The Real Australia’, Time Europe, v.156, no.13, September 25 2000 5) Alomes, S., ‘Australian Nationalism in the Eras fo Imperialism and ‘Internationalism’ in J. Arnold, P. Spearritt, D. Walker [eds] Out of Empire: The British Dominion of Australia, QLD, 1993 6) Cousins, S. Understanding Australia Study Notes, ‘National Identity’ http://www.abc.net.au/ra/australia/pdf/national_id.pdf