The War on Democracy ― Conservative Opinion in the Australian Press

If current Australian conservative opinion writers are to be believed, Australian political and cultural life continues to be infiltrated and dominated by plotting left-wing ideologues, 'Marxists', and extremists. While conservatives see themselves as representing the interests of ordinary Australians, they see the left as politically correct and self-serving elitists, intent on imposing their undemocratic views on the media, schools, universities, and other public institutions and cultural practices. The authors of The War on Democracy think otherwise, arguing that the real opponents of democracy are conservatives, whose attack on the left reveals hostility for their ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The War on Democracy focuses on the published ideas of seven of Australia's most influential conservative media commentators, analyzing how each one tries to discredit those they label 'extremists' â?? journalists, academics, rights activists, unionists â?? as a way of disguising their own self-interested support of the powerful and the privileged. This is a topical and timely book, written in an accessible and lively style, that will be of particular interest to all those concerned with the fate of democratic ideals.

Steve Mickler is Head of Media and Information at Curtin University.