Politics and Governance in the Anglo States

Abstract

This chapter examines the recent politics and governance of the Anglo, or English speaking states, of the Asia-Pacific. The USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand share a number of important characteristics, apart from their common language. Each has a long tradition of political democracy and each is a mainly migrant society, with a substantial indigenous population. There are also, interestingly, significant differences between these four nations and the nonEnglish speaking nations of the region. The differences are particularly notable in the domain of governance and political culture. The Anglo nations draw on a shared colonial political heritage, although there are differences between them, plus a marked attachment to liberal democracy, although the institutions and mechanisms of government vary (see Chapter 1). This chapter takes a close look at the political debates that have animated each of these nations over the past decades: focusing on the debates over the size of the public sector and the provision and governance of welfare. Interestingly, all four countries have had broadly similar experiences although there have been significant local variations.