Australian exceptionalism reconsidered. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dowding, Keith
• Is Part Of: Australian journal of political science. Volume 52:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 165
• Page End: 182
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Australia -- exceptionalism -- institutions -- comparative politics -- uniqueness; Australasia -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; 320
• DOI: 10.1080/10361146.2016.1267111
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1036-1146

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Australian exceptionalism has long been claimed in diverse fields. This essay reconsiders claims for Australian exceptionalism first discussing its nature. Exceptionalism cannot simply be uniqueness since everywhere is unique at some level of granularity, thus the level of detail at which countries or places are compared must be equivalent. One mistake is to take one country as the exception whilst lumping everywhere else together. It argues exceptionalism requires a rule systematically explaining difference. The best bet for such a rule is the Australia's political institutions. It argues Australian exceptionalism has not been demonstrated, however, the claim is not of that nature, is a declaration made by Australians to distinguish their subject from the dominion of British commentators on Australian affairs.