Australian National Identity
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Identify and discuss the nature of national identity in Australia. How has/have national identify/ies been portrayed and maintained and which groups have been excluded?
The nature of Australian’s national identity has been an ongoing debate for many years. It involves how Australians see themselves, and how other countries view Australia as a whole. Throughout the country’s history, the national identity has not remained constant, and currently it is a debate to what Australian’s true national identity is.
As the original country to settle in Australia (excluding Aboriginals), British Culture has a strong influence in Australia. Australia was originally a colony of Britain, and therefore its national identity was very similar to that of an Englishman. Australia adopted the English language, government, religions, and even sports. Further, until the Second World War, the majority of all Australian trade was with the British. It is not hard to see why the British very heavily influenced Australian’s national identity in the 19th and early 20th century(3).
Australia is still a commonwealth of Britain and has allegiance to the monarchy. Australia relies on Britain for general support like the Royal Navy to protect its largest coastline in the world. Britain is sill a huge part of Australia’s history and culture, so it is hard to dismiss their current influence on the country’s national identity(5). However, many Australians want to diminish their tie to Great Britain, and become a republic with no connection to the monarchy at all. This shows the desire for Australians to have their own distinct national identity separate from ties to any other country.
Australia has recently become very strong allies with the United States. The Prime Minister, John Howard, is often seen talking to the American President, George Bush, and supporting America in different policies and wars, like the war with Iraq. Our esteemed professor Tom Heenan described this relationship between Howard and Bush. He said that Bush was like the big brother, and Howard acted like the little brother that is always trying to be involved. This perception cannot be good for Australian’s national identity as perceived by other nations. Australia wants to form its national identity as a strong nation that does not rely on other countries for support.
Australia is also trying to determine where to focus its foreign policies. As mentioned previously, Howard has a strong relationship with the United States, Britain and other European nations. However, before Howard, Prime Minister Paul Keating was trying to make Australia more focused on its relationships with Asian countries(6). Keating tried to get away from America and Britain, and focus more on policy with China and Southeast Asia. As his successor, Howard stopped the progression with Asian countries and went back to focus more on western countries. With this the case, the debate is still alive today whether Australia should be considered a western-like country or an Asian nation. When this debate is answered, it will help Australians determine their national identity in an international sense.
There seems to be no lone factor that has more influence in Australia’s national identity than sport. David Carter said: “Sport is not just something Australians enjoy; it is seen as fundamental to what makes them truly Australian”(2). Sport became such a huge part of Australian culture when its cricket team would play England. The Australian team won for the first time in 1877 in what they call The вЂ?Ashes’. This was a huge victory for the entire country because it proved their homegrown strain against that of their ancestry in England. Even today Australians pride themselves on their national cricket team. Sir Donald Bradman was the best cricketer to ever play the game, and Prime Minister John Howard called him the “greatest living Australian”. In other countries, a statement like that would never be said for an athlete. Just a month ago, 800 million people across the world watched as the Australians won the cricket world cup and it brought the nation together as a whole. As a young country, Australia feels like they have to prove themselves, and they reckon the best way for them to do that is on the competitive playing field(2). The nation’s character and identity always seems to be on trial during international sporting events, and the nation prides themselves on international victory. Victories against England and the United States are especially sweet to Australians because of their relationship with these superpower countries. Matches against New Zealand are also of the utmost importance to Australians pride because of the proximity of their neighboring country. Issues of national identity are always at stake when Australia competes against these countries.
Other than cricket, Australians pride themselves on many other sports. After the debacle of the 1976 summer Olympic games where Australia won no medals, the Australian Institute of Sport was created. This institute brought all sports back into the national limelight and reminded Australians how important sport was to their national identity. Other sports Australia prides themselves on are tennis, swimming, rugby, soccer, and their very own Australian Rules Football. This is a game that gives them a sense of national identity because they created it. Although it is based mainly in Victoria, it is very heavily followed in the region. People are mostly fans of one particular team (usually in their region), but as their individual passions band together, its shows a unique sense of national identity based on sport that is unique to Australia.
Australian identity has a lot to do with mateship, and sport was always something that Australians could do with their mates(4). Whether watching or playing, sport is the prime activity that mates could do together. Years ago people would meet at places like the Melbourne Cricket Club, the Victorian Racing Club, or Kooyong, and socialize, and cheer for something they had a passion for, with the people the enjoyed the most. Even today mates will gather and head to the MCG, or the Olympic Stadium, and cheer for the athletes and sport that represent Australia. Sport provides the largest source for Australia’s national identity because of the passion people have for it. Everyone from the athletes themselves, to the barracker in the stands, to the person watching it on the television love sport and that type of passion should be, and is, reflected in their national identity.
In order for a country to figure out their national identity, they have to sort out their past. The