Class and Politics: New South Wales, Victoria and the Early Commonwealth
Published by Australian National University Press: Canberra 1976 1st Edition
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John Rickard's study examines how class structures shaped political life in Australia during the crucial decades surrounding Federation. He argues that class was not a simple economic category but a lived social reality expressed through work, culture, identity, and community. By tracing the social landscapes of New South Wales and Victoria, Rickard shows how each colony developed distinct class dynamics that influenced political behaviour, public debate, and the emerging national consciousness.
The book explores the rise of the Labor movement, the responses of conservative and liberal forces, and the ways in which class tensions played out in elections, parliamentary debates, and public campaigns. Rickard highlights how industrial conflict, urbanisation, and shifting economic conditions created new political alignments, while older colonial loyalties and regional differences continued to shape voter expectations. He pays particular attention to how political leaders framed class issues—sometimes amplifying them, sometimes smoothing them over—in the lead‑up to and aftermath of Federation.
Ultimately, Rickard argues that the early Commonwealth was forged through a complex negotiation between class interests and the desire for national unity. While class divisions were real and often sharp, Australian political culture also displayed a strong impulse toward compromise and social cohesion. The book positions the 1890-1910 period as foundational in establishing the patterns of class politics that would influence Australian society for much of the twentieth century."
Light wear to unclipped dustjacket. No inscriptions. Pages very clean and well presented. Binding is good with no loose pages. A nice 1st edition copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
