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Institute for Social Research

Citizenship and Government - About


The Citizenship and Government program has a strong foundation in critical intellectual investigation of citizenship, liberal democracy and governance. This supports strategic research on public policy issues, combined with applied research on social and community planning. Recent grants, shared with other ISR programs, include:

  • an ARC Linkage grant with the National Archives of Australia, to develop a civic education strategy making innovative use of archival research on the White Australia policy (2003–06)

  • an ARC Linkage grant for a three-year project, "Community Consultation and the Hard to Reach. Local Government, Social Profiling and Civic Infrastructure". This study investigates reasons for non-participation in local government consultation, drawing on critical policy analysis and debates on governance and democratic capacity. The collaboration of seven local councils and the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) will allow us to develop a transferable, generally viable framework linking: (i) sophisticated demographic profiles; (ii) types of communication media on a continuum of intensity (face to face, telephone/mail survey, email/internet); (iii) issues on which residents wish to be consulted; and (iv) implications for civic infrastructure. The industry partners are: Nillumbik Shire Council, City of Whittlesea, City of Port Phillip, Moreland City Council, VLGA, City of Melbourne, City of Maribyrnong and Darebin City Council

  • an ARC Linkage grant to investigate the feasibility of developing a seasonal labour program to employ Pacific Island workers in Murray Valley horticulture during periods of peak labour demand. The ISR's three industry partners on the 18-month project are Oxfam/Community Aid Abroad, the Sunraysia-Mallee Economic Development Board and the Economic Development Unit of the Swan Hill Rural City Council.

  • Political Equality, Minority Rights and Citizenship: Swinburne University Strategic Initiative June 2003–June 2006.

Research within the program combines expertise in sociology, history, public policy, political science, gender studies, economics and anthropology. Its key terms are rights, risk and security.

The program incorporates theoretical work on modern liberal government, on the roles of states, citizens, markets and communities and on the impact of liberalism, internationalisation and competition. These shared intellectual concerns are linked to scholarly research, applied research with industry partners and contributions to public debate. Areas of research include:

  • Political decision-making and parliamentary democracy
  • Victorian politics and state finances
  • Public services and civic infrastructure
  • Gender and cultural diversity
  • Ethnicity, faith, social networks and liberal settlements
  • Refugee policy and immigration
  • Youth policy
  • Social capital
  • Citizenship education
  • Clubs, voluntary associations and membership