National Identity in Australia - Article Example

Name : xxxxxxxxxxx Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Course : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : National Identity Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx @2010 Synopsis Richard White argued that when we look at ideas of national identity we need to ask not whether they are true or false but rather what their function is whose creation they are and whose interests they serve. White’s question basically meant that the concept of national identity should be perceived in broader terms as opposed to using the narrow framework of whether the issue of nationality is a fact or a fiction. White uses cultural analysis in evaluation of the basic features that contribute to Australian National Identity. 1 Other theorist such as Benedict Anderson (65) also put emphasis on the nature of culture and its contributions to development of national identity.2 This particular presentation aims at making an analysis of whether the approach used by White helps us to understand national identity in Australia. It will evaluate four aspects Indigenous history, the land factor, Multiculturism and the Australian day. Introduction National identity generally refers to as the distinction of specific features of a group of people with a common background which makes them peculiar from the rest. Australia has a number of things which makes it common with the rest of the world although it has some unique aspects which separates it from the world. These are factors which take place in the day to day life ranging from the basic things like cultural activities of each ethnic group to the complex activities of economic development. Australia in general carries out these activities in a special way such that by mentioning them one thinks of the nation, thus it is they act as the national identity. Although any culture and national identity is always changing and others vanish in most of the nations, Australia retains its original cultures and practices but only evolve to fit in the developing world. For example, as the first inhabitors, the Aboriginals still exists together with their cultural activities although their skills are improved by the developed knowledge thus the arts they used to make many years ago have been developed to attract the attention of the whole world. Others like the distribution of the land among the residents, multiculturalism public days and gender histories are used as factors of Australia’s national identity.3 Through the use of Indigenous history as highlighted by Richard White we can understand what it means to be Australian. In the current period of intense demands for then full recognition of indigenous Australians it vital to realize that Australia was not originally just an empty territory, it was occupied by people, the Aboriginal people. Richard White tries to give an analysis of Australian national identity using the aspect indigenous histories; he gives detailed specification of the culture and development of Australian Aboriginal people who are dated to have lived in Australia 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. White (p 3) describes the way of life of this society, he states that they had no houses however they lay in open air without any particular covering, their bed was the earth and the heavens acted as their canopy. The only food available was a small kind of fish which they acquired through making stone wares across sea branches or little caves. White further gives the survey of William Dampier one of the early European navigators who visited the Australian North-West in 1688. Dampier’s description of the early inhabitants was rather interesting; he stated that the Aboriginal people had natural deformity with the worst features and the most unpleasant looks of any kind of people that he had ever come across. White (p 3) highlights that Dampier was actually just disappointed because he did not find gold or any other commodity suitable for trading as a result he made awful description of the early Australian Inhibitors.4 The approach based on Indigenous histories is therefore a fundamental aspect in the understanding of Australian identity because original inhibitors are a contributory factor in the development of Australian culture which is significant aspect of National Identity, for instance we frequently see the Aboriginal motifs on tourism advertisements, aeroplanes, T-Shirts and public transport. Furthermore there are Aboriginal cultural and art festivals that take place in Sydney which attract both overseas and local visitors. Yet not until 1967 were the Aboriginal people granted basic citizenship rights by the Australian law, the constitution on the other hand does not still recognize the sovereignty of this group of people. Richard Whites analysis affects the vision of national identity through giving Australians the essence of acknowledging Indigenous histories as part of our national Identity by understanding what role they play formulation of features of the Australian National Identity.5 “To be Australian means finding answers through tracing images we have used to describe our Land’’ Richard White used the aspect the Australian land as essential of in understanding. Australia is an island in the southern hemisphere, located between Antarctica and Asia. Although it is surrounded by Indian Ocean to the West; Tasman Sea and Southern Ocean to the south; Pacific Ocean to the East and other seas like Coral to the north, much of it is low dry and flat. The most differences in the lifestyle are enhanced by climatic changes as majority of the people live in urban areas around the coast because the harsh physical environment has forced people to stay close to the fertile coastal areas. This is whereby most of the economic activities take place due to the availability of resources. 6 Theories of national identity are mostly formulated from the difference between the bush and the city with rural and urban dwellers articulating different social and economic interests .When the British took control of Australia in 1788, they declared the land to be a property of the crown but in 1825 its sale to the private sectors was introduced. Therefore, it is privately owned through purchase, through leasehold whereby pastoralists are granted land to use for some years and others like parks and crown lands which remain under the ownership of the government. In 1992, other form of rights in the ownership of the land was legally established with the native title as a way of continuing the Aboriginals and Islander communities’ connection with the land. The customary laws established from the time of the European establishment of sovereignty can help the indigenous groups claim their lands. Thus the unique ownership and utilisation of the land for economic development can be looked at as a general way of identifying it as a nation.7 Benedict Anderson also places economic prints as the heart of national culture. 8 Governed by the post-modern system value, Australia can officially be referred to as a multicultural nation. This is because it has not yet approved any national culture to identify it but all cultures are equal. It is a peaceful nation giving it extra values which the other nations do not enjoy, it allows people from the other countries to settle in it and retain their original cultures and languages. This has made it better and interesting place for the residents and the settlers to live in. It has also facilitated its development and tackling of the challenges of the global economics and a centre for all the life factors: political, social, scientific and economical.9 The different waves of relocations from various origins have highly influenced benefits related to languages and diversities in cultures. Differences in cultures have contributed to emergence of factors of development like: hard work, dedication, resilience, adaptation and some other skills and knowledge yet to be summarized in the general identity as a country of migrants. All these factors come along as each culture tries to fight for survival and as others try to adapt the cultures they prefer to be the best. Thee author points out that the policy of multiculturalism has best served Australia. It does not conflict with the national identity but only adds more value and also attributes a crucial point to the developing nationhood. Richard argued that the national identity of Australia and the response tho the changing world are evolving simultaneously thus those at the fore front especially the political leaders should ensure that the country moves forward to overcome latent racism, bigotry, self-satisfaction and so on with the purpose of achieving national objectives and vision and embrace changes to the better. This factor is concern with the national acceptance of freedom and different relationship among different cultures, individuals and groups in the society which has enabled the country to meet the needs or to derive special benefits from the contributions of the citizens from different backgrounds.10 The concept of Australia as a multicultural nation holds its history back in 1972 when it first appeared in a document of government policy. This policy meant the government measures formulated to respond to that of the diversity which was concern with the management of the whole consequences but not concern about the selection of the immigrants.11 This was initially known as the Foundation Day, Anniversary Day or ANA Day is an official day for Australia as a continent. It is celebrated on January 26th, the day when the first fleet arrived at Sydney in 1788, hosted the British flag and the proclamation of the British Sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia. It is usually a public holiday in all the states of Australia and marked by the order of Australia and the address from the Prime Minister. Every Australia day explores what it means to be an Australian and reflects on the nation as a whole. During the celebrations of this great day, there are some things which identifies Australia with the other nations are displayed like the Aboriginal’s arts and cultural festivals for example, the festival of the dreaming in Sydney which attracts most of the people in the world thus it is a world’s way of identifying the Australian. It is also the largest annual community celebrations in the whole world withy the most extensive program of events whereby over 2 million people participate in the over 5000 organised activities over the period of the eve of the day.12 It is an occasion which is meant to reflect on the achievements of the nation and sets the objectives to look into so as to make it a better place for future. The foundation of its success is marked by the celebrations held in each town or city and the togetherness of people unified by the celebrations of the great things about Australia and the pride of being an Australian. This is highly admired by most of the other nations of the world thus everyone is aware about the celebrations and when they take place. This identifies Australia as a whole from the other continents.13 Conclusion Richard White revolutionizes the perspective of Australians concerning the notion of national identity, through his analysis we can come to a realization that national identity is not a concept that is developed but rather its exists among Australians, only if we reflect on the important factors that make up our National Identity. Annotated Bibliography White R., 1981, Inventing Australia: images and identity, Allen & Unwin, London. The author in his book-inventing in Australia looks at the general images and experiences of national identity. He argues that concept of national identity should be perceived in broader terms as opposed to using the narrow framework of whether the issue of nationality is a fact or a fiction. White rejects the assumption that National Identity is a cultural product; he uses cultural analysis in evaluation of the basic features that contribute to Australian National Identity. He considers some factors like multiculturalism, land, gender histories and public holidays to be associated with the identification of Australia. Short, D., 2008, Reconciliation and colonial power: indigenous rights in Australia, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd, Turkey. This author in his book, Reconciliation and colonial power which was published in 2008 supports the idea of Robert Whites by looking at the rights given to the indigenous of Australia and especially the Aboriginal Australians. This is different from the other nations where the original inhibitors are replaced by immigrants with their new cultures hence no recognition of the fore founders of the land Birch H., 1999, Nationalism and national integration, Routledge, New York In support of the idea of Robert White on national identity, the author considers the location and the productivity of the land of Australia as an identity. He argues that although it is surrounded by water a body, the land is dry hence the population is densely around the urban coasts leaving the other areas bare and sparsely occupied. Catriona E., 2008, Being Australian: Narratives of National Identity, Allen & Unwin, New Zealand. This is the author of Being Australian: Narratives of National Identity. In his writing he considers the unique ownership of the Australian’s land as a tool of it identity. He states that initially this land was owned communally but later the private sectors were entitled the title deeds through purchasing. Other was owned through leasehold whereby pastoralists are granted land to use for some years and others like parks and crown lands remained under the ownership of the government. Castles I., 2001, Multicultural Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Legaspi Castle Ian considers the practice of multiculturalism as a factor of Australian’s national identity. Australia has no nationally based culture but accepts the existence of all cultures from different ethnic groups. Richard Woolcott, 1999, Australia's National Identity, Australia The author was a journalist of the Age newspaper who on October 20, 1999, wrote an article on Australia's National Identity. In his research, he interviewed Mr. Noel Pearson a leading figure in Australian aboriginal society who gave information concerning the multiculturalism practice in Australia and how the rest of the world perceives it. Levey G., 2008, Political theory and Australian multiculturalism, Berghahn Books, Oxford. The author also considers the idea of multiculturalism as a factor of national development. Churchill J. & New South Wales Australia Day Council, 1999, Australia Day: a history, Australia Day Council of NSW, Sydney Thee authors considers the unique celebrations of Australia day as a factor of national identity Harney S., 2000, Australia Day, Chris Wilson Reed, Ember The author also looks the objectives of the Australia day as an event of national identity. Bennett D, 2000, Multicultural states: rethinking difference and identity, Routledge, New York. He looks at Australia as a multicultural state which allows rethinking differences hence the availability of variety of information and ideas enhances national development in all areas including: political, social and economic. Bibliography Anderson, Benedict, 1991, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, 2nd edn (London and New York: Verso Bennett D., 2000, Multicultural states: rethinking difference and identity, Routledge, New York. Birch H., 1999, Nationalism and national integration, Routledge, New York Catriona E., 2008, Being Australian: Narratives of National Identity, Allen & Unwin, New Zealand Castles I., 2001, Multicultural Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Legaspi Churchill J. & New South Wales Australia Day Council, 1999, Australia Day: a history, Australia Day Council of NSW, Sydney Harney S., 2000, Australia Day, Chris Wilson Reed, Ember Levey G., 2008, Political theory and Australian multiculturalism, Berghahn Books, Oxford National Library of Australia, 2000, APAIS, Australian public affairs information service: a subject index to current literature, National Library Australia, New Zealand. National Library of Australia, 1999, Australian national bibliography, National Library Australia, Adelaide. Richard Woolcott, 1999, Australia's National Identity, Australia Short, D.,2008, Reconciliation and colonial power: indigenous rights in Australia, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd, Turkey. White R., 1981, Inventing Australia: images and identity, Allen & Unwin, London. . Read More