Citizenship and Indigenous Australians
Changing Conceptions and Possibilities

Leading commentators from a range of disciplines consider the history and future of indigenous rights.

Nicolas Peterson (Edited by), Will Sanders (Edited by)

9780521627368, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 June 1998

240 pages, 1 table
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.36 kg

'… a comprehensive and well-grounded view of citizenship, making a timely and intelligent contribution to an issue which is foundational to negotiations between mainstream Australia and its indigenous population.' The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute

For most of Australia's colonial history Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders have been denied full membership of Australian society. This book examines the history of indigenous peoples' citizenship status and asks, is it possible for indigenous Australians to be members of a common society on equal terms with others? Leading commentators from a range of disciplines examine historical conceptions of indigenous civil rights, consider issues arising from recent struggles for equality and consider possibilities for multicultural citizenship that recognise difference. Topics include self-determination, the 1967 referendum, resource development, whether Australian Aborigines and white Australians can belong, the international law context, and sovereignty. This book makes a crucial intervention in current debates by providing the context for understanding struggles over distinctive indigenous rights.

1. Introduction Nicolas Peterson and Will Sanders
Part I. Historical Conceptions: 2. Nineteenth century bureaucratic constructions of indigenous identities in New South Wales Marilyn Wood
3. From nomadism to citizenship: A. P. Elkin and Aboriginal advancement Geoff Gray
Part II. Contemporary Conceptions: 4. Indigenous citizenship and self-determination: the problem of shared responsibilities Tim Rowse
5. Welfare colonialism and citizenship: politics, economics and agency Nicolas Peterson
6. Representation matters: the 1967 referendum and citizenship Bain Attwood and Andrew Marcus
7. Citizenship and the CDEP scheme: equal rights, difference and appropriateness Will Sanders
8. Citizenship and the logic of resource development: indigenous responses to mining in the Gulf country David Trigger
Part III. Emerging Possibilities: 9. Whose citizen? Whose country? Peter Read
10. Citizenship and legitimacy in post-colonial Australia Richard Mulgan
11. International law context Garth Nettheim
12. Sovereignty Henry Reynolds.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP]