Hansonism

In Australian politics, Hansonism is the political ideology of Pauline Hanson, the leader of One Nation, and those that follow her. The term has been used since 1998,^[1] and was added to The Australian National Dictionary in 2018.^[2]

Pauline Hanson, who Hansonism is named after

Ideology

Hansonism has been described as a form of right-wing populism. A common theme within Hansonism is the idea that the "multiculturalist elite" are manipulating "hardworking Australians" into supporting certain policies, such as Indigenous land rights and welcome to country ceremonies.^[3][4] Hansonism believes that such rights for minority groups, such as for Indigenous Australians, are forms of reverse racism and are anti-equality.^[3] In this regard, Hansonism is often viewed as similar to other right-wing populist ideologies such as Trumpism.^[5]

Another key feature of Hansonism is support of economic nationalism and opposition to economic rationalism.^[6] Hanson has supported the re-introduction of tariffs, establishing government-run banks, renewing local manufacturing, and is critical of multinational corporations.^[6]

In 1998, Kukathas and Maley identified two strands of Hansonism: Soft Hansonism, and Hard Hansonism.^[1] Hard Hansonism refers to the policies directly supported by Hanson, such as anti-Asian sentiment, an attachment to the White Australia Policy, criticism of multiculturalism, and the populist view that these policies are associated with "the people".^[1] Soft Hansonism is associated with Hansonist policies that take a milder form or are promoted by non-One Nation members, such as staunch opposition to asylum seekers, with the views of Graeme Campbell being cited as an example of the latter type.^[1]

Critical reception

Academic Tod Moore interprets Hansonism as a reaction against the rise of neoliberalism and globalism, inspired by both fear and anger, and that it has been adopted by blue-collar and middle class Australians due to the acceptance of neoliberalism by the Australian Labor Party. However, Moore critiqued Hansonism as contradictory as the policies would ultimately lead to policies he believes as harmful to those groups, such as "smaller government, fewer public amenities, more financial deregulation, weaker unions, and greater wealth inequality".^[6]

Milton Osborne, in 1999, noted that research found that Hanson's initial supporters did not find Asian immigration a major reason for their support, but instead they were most concerned about economic deregulation and unemployment. Osborne also argues that her support of substantial tax cuts undermined support for Hansonism, leading to her initially leaving parliament.^[7]

See also

• List of ideologies named after people
• Xenophobia
• Ultranationalism
• Racism in Australia
• Trumpism

References

1. Kukathas, Chandran; Maley, William (1998). "The Last Refuge Hard and Soft Hansonism in Contemporary Australian Politics" (PDF). CIS Issue Analysis (4). Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
2. Astle, David (29 August 2016). "The Australian National Dictionary updated after 28 years". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
3. Fleming, Andy; Mondon, Aurelien (5 February 2018). Rydgren, Jens (ed.). The Radical Right in Australia. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190274559.013.32. ISBN 978-0-19-027455-9. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
4. "Politicians react to Pauline Hanson's walkout during Acknowledgement of Country". ABC Australia. 27 July 2022. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
5. Hartcher, Peter (3 February 2017). "The twin threats facing Malcolm Turnbull: Donald Trump and Pauline Hanson". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
6. Mooreq, Tod (2019). "Once as Tragedy and Again as Farce: Hansonism, Backlashers, and Economic Nationalism After 20 Years". In Grant, Bligh; Moore, Tod; Lynch, Tony (eds.). The rise of right-populism: Pauline Hanson's One nation and Australian politics. Springer. ISBN 978-981-13-2669-1.
7. Osborne, Milton (1999). "AUSTRALIA'S ELECTION YEAR: Hansonism and the Asian Financial Crisis". Southeast Asian Affairs: 52–64. doi:10.1355/SEAA99D (inactive 26 November 2024).

External links

• 1998 website run by One Nation on Hansonism