School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences

Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith

PhD Student

 

Telephone: +61 2 6268
Fax: +61 2 6268
Email:   z2273258@unsw.adfa.edu.au
Location: off-campus S2, 2010

Field of Study - Electoral Geography

Supervisor:  Prof Brian Lees

Co-supervisors: Kevin Dunn (UNSW),  Paul Tranter (UNSW@ADFA)

Research Topic - A dynamic electorate? Analysing the geography of minor parties at Australian state and federal elections, 1997-2006
Education:
Description of research

My doctoral research aims to investigate and explain the electoral geography of minor parties through assessing their changing electoral performances, presence and participation in Australian electoral settings at state and federal elections held between 1997 and 2006. To achieve this aim, six minor parties have been investigated: Australians Against Further Immigration, Australian Democrats, Family First, the Greens, One Nation and Unity. Exploring spatial and temporal variations in minor party electoral performances and their implications for the continued participation and presence of minor parties have also been of interest for this research. This has been exemplified through candidate standings, constituency formation and political engagements undertaken by these parties across electoral settings. This thesis is intended on highlighting challenges that are faced by minor parties as political participants in regards to their respective electoral prospects in a contemporary electoral setting.

Publications

Smith, S. (forthcoming) ?In need of revival: Assessing the state of Australian electoral geography research', paper forthcoming in L'Espace Politique/The Political Space.

Dunn, K.M., Forrest, J., Pe-Pua, R. and Smith, S. (2005) ?Experiences of racism in the Australian body politic: extent, spheres, and cultural unevenness' in Khoo, T. (ed.), The Body Politic: Racialised Political Cultures in Australia (Proceedings from the UQ Australian Studies Centre conference, Brisbane, 24-26 November 2004) , Brisbane and Melbourne: University of Queensland's Australian Studies Centre (ASC) and Monash University's National Centre for Australian Studies (NSC). ISBN 0-646-44730-0. [http://asc.uq.edu.au/bodypolitic/dunn-et-al.pdf].

Smith, S. (2005) ?Chasing the ?race' and ?ethnic' votes: Profiles of minor parties and their positions within the Australian political landscapes of ?racism', 1999 and 2003 New South Wales State Elections' in Khoo, T. (ed.), The Body Politic: Racialised Political Cultures in Australia (Proceedings from the UQ Australian Studies Centre conference, Brisbane, 24-26 November 2004) , Brisbane and Melbourne: University of Queensland's Australian Studies Centre (ASC) and Monash University's National Centre for Australian Studies (NSC). ISBN 0-646-44730-0. [http://asc.uq.edu.au/bodypolitic/smith.pdf].