Democracy in the Age of
Entitlement, Fear and Grievance

• Why do facts so rarely change minds?

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• What happens when slogans and political theatre replace ideas and solutions?

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• How do we counter populist promises and the politics of blame?

 

And most importantly:

 

 What holds a nation together when distrust, division and grievance pull it apart?

 

These are the questions at the heart of this book. It draws on history, psychology, neuroscience and the power of stories to shape what we believe, who we trust and where we belong. It also examines fundamental questions of our identity:

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• What is Australia?

• What does it mean to be Australian?

• What did it take to build a country so many want to join? 

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This is not another book lamenting the state of politics or warning about populism. It is a book about what we can do.

 

It offers a framework for understanding what binds us together as Australians: how we balance what we expect from society with what we owe each other, and how we build a shared identity without sacrificing our diversity.

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It is a practical synthesis of democratic thought, framed for Australia and our identity. It joins equal rights, accountable power, belonging, layered identity and responsibility for future generations.

 

Above all, it is about restoring hope. Not through easy promises, but through a shared commitment to what makes Australia a nation worth passing on.

 

The question is not just what kind of Australia we inherited. It is what kind of Australia we are prepared to leave behind, and whether the next generation can still believe they will get a fair go.