One nation and militant democracy

Abstract

The One Nation Party’s unmistakable resemblances to historical “populist” parties have placed the defenders of democracy on alert. The party’s official statement Principles and Objectives announces the name “Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party” and the ownership by the Leader unmistakably draws it into line with some notorious examples of “right wing” populism, where adoration of the leader became a cult. The statement promises “to speak for the voiceless and the powerless” against the established forces of the Australian party system, deliberately setting One Nation against the mainstream of Australian politics, while yet clamoring to influence it. This chapter asks whether activities of One Nation deserve the attention of a defensive democracy and seeks to examine in particular two of the claims of the “Principles”: That One Nation aims “To protect our sovereignty and democracy”, and that it repeatedly acclaims Australia as a “Christian country”.