Mark Latham and the ideology of the ALP

Abstract

This article focuses on Mark Latham's views on equality. Latham's emphasis on education and on overcoming suburban, spatial inequality draws on the Whitlamite tradition. However, his work also draws on neoliberal influences and on arguments regarding the impact of the information economy. Both these influences have contributed to a move away from more traditional Labor and social‐democratic views on class, racial and gender inequality. This article considers Latham's relationship with traditional Labor ideology as well as with Third Way politics. Latham's arguments regarding the role of elites and the implications that this has for his understandings of the city, capitalism and diverse forms of inequality are also addressed. Latham's earlier views still influence his speeches and electoral strategy as Labor Leader.

Notes

For analyses of the Curtin and Chifley governments’ Keynesian economic policies, see Battin (1997), Johnson (1986) and Johnson (1989, 14–50). Latham (2003b) does not adequately address his differences with Keynesian economic policy, including on employment generation, in his Chifley ‘Light on the Hill’ lecture. If he did, he would have to acknowledge the extent to which his views differ from Keynesian Labor traditions.

For feminist critiques of Latham, see further Sawer (2003), Bacchi (2001) and Johnson (2000, 50, 2001, 144–5). Arguably, Latham's particular emphasis on the self‐reliant individual is also gendered (see Johnson 2000, 74–5).

Keating was also more likely to recognise the inequality of particular groups than Blair (see Johnson and Tonkiss 2002, 13).

See, for example, the sections on Aborigines, women and migrants in Patience and Head (1979) and Whitlam (1985).

Tony Blair and Gerhard Schroeder (1999) also complained that ‘too often rights were elevated above responsibilities’.

For an analysis of the extremely diverse racial and ethnic composition of Latham's Western Sydney, see UFP/WSROC (2002).

For a critique of Latham on welfare, see Watts (1999).

See further Johnson (1986).

Carol Johnson is an Associate Professor/Reader in the Politics Discipline at the University of Adelaide. A member of the Editorial Board of the Australian Journal of Political Science, she has published widely on issues of Australian politics and is the author of The Labor Legacy: Curtin, Chifley, Whitlam, Hawke (Allen & Unwin, 1989) and Governing Change: From Keating to Howard (University of Queensland Press, 2000). She thanks this journal's anonymous referees for useful feedback on this paper.

Compare, for example, Latham (2004e, f, g) and Blair (1996b, 1997). Opportunity for All is a common Blairite phrase that might have less resonance in a society that has traditionally emphasised social mobility. Unfortunately, there are some issues that space precludes developing here but which I have discussed elsewhere. Like Latham's, Blair's concept of community tends to be undifferentiated in terms of gender, racial and ethnic inequality—see further Johnson and Tonkiss (2002, 13). The influence of Blairite views on the information society on Latham should not be overestimated since, as pointed out in this article, Keating government ministers had developed such views long before the Blair government—see further Johnson (2000, 124–8).

See further Johnson and Tonkiss (2002).

Latham (Sydney Morning Herald 6–7 December 2003) also raised environmental issues but had not pursued these in a major way at the time of submission of this article.