The Aspirational Citizen and Neo-liberal Hegemony A Discourse Theory Analysis Sean Hosking A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of New South Wales, 2011 PLEASE TYPE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: HOSKING First name: SEAN Other name/s: ROBERT Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: Social Science and International Studies Faculty: Social Science and Arts Title: The Aspirational Citizen and Neo-Liberal Hegemony: a Discourse Theory Analysis Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) The Aspirational Citizen and Neo-Liberal Hegemony; a Discourse Theory Analysis The concept of an aspirational class came to major prominence in Australia in recent times as a key mainstream demographic around which both major political parties formulated and marketed their policies. Prompted by the electoral success of the conservative Coalition Government in winning key Labor Party heartland seats, the aspirational discourse identified a 'new' class of citizen: practical, hardworking, unsentimentally materialistic, and captive to the prosperity claims of the free-market. Although arguments for the existence of such a class were not supported by any substantive social research, the reality of the aspirational class was typically uncritically accepted in mainstream political and media commentary. As such the aspirational class was most often invoked as the carrier of an immanent logic in support of the adoption of a range of specific political responses. These included prescriptions for small government, reduced government taxation, privatisation, industrial relations deregulation, and the curtailment of trade union power. The aspirational's status as emerging demographic and class reality meant that such political prescriptions could be objectively conveyed as real world imperatives. The thesis argues that the aspirational discourse can only be understood in the context of the political interests and discursive logics in relation to which it was articulated. That is, as a neo-liberal mythology that both affirmed and promoted hegemonic values and interests, and responded to the social dislocations attendant to the neo-liberal reform agenda. In this respect the adoption of the aspirational discourse and the key elements articulated within it can be related to important political, social and economic developments in Australia following the commencement of neo-liberal reforms in the early 1980s. The thesis analyses the rise to prominence of aspirational politics from a discourse theory perspective, employing an approach developed by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. Core theoretical concepts of Laclau and Mouffe, in particular in regard to the function of ideology, the discursive production of social antagonisms, structural dislocation, and the role of mythology, serve to capture the political character of the aspirational discourse and the articulatory practices, discursive logics and social interests implicated in its production. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). Sean Hosking Ben Reynolds …………………………………………………………… ……………………………………..……………… ……….…30/03/11……………… Signature Witness Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: THIS SHEET IS TO BE GLUED TO THE INSIDE FRONT COVER OF THE THESIS ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ Signed ……Sean Hosking……………………………………….............. Date ………………30/3/11…………………………….............. COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed ……Sean Hosking………………………………………........................... Date …………30/3/11…………………………………........................... AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ Signed …………Sean Hosking…………………………………........................... Date ……………………30/3/11………………………........................... Acknowledgements This thesis is dedicated to my children Ellie, Xavier and Alexandra. I’d, like to thank my mother Jan for being a constant supportive presence in my life, my partner Karen, who has shown enormous patience and fortitude in line with her ‘highly evolved’ spirit, and my father John. Special thanks to my supervisor, Dr Alan Morris, for his advice, support and patience, and Dr Susan Keen without whom this thesis would not have been written. i Abstract The concept of an aspirational class came to major prominence in Australia in recent times as a key mainstream demographic around which both major political parties formulated and marketed their policies. Prompted by the electoral success of the conservative Coalition government in winning key Labor Party heartland seats, the aspirational discourse identified a 'new' class of citizen unencumbered by traditional political allegiance, practical, hardworking, unsentimentally materialistic and wholly captive to the prosperity claims of the free market. The capacity to politically capture this class was posited as an essential component of political success. Although arguments for the existence of such a class were not supported by any substantive social research, the ‘reality’ of the aspirational, and the range of values and demands ascribed to it, was typically uncritically accepted in mainstream political and media commentary. As such the aspirational was most often invoked as the carrier of an immanent logic in support of the adoption of a range of specific political responses. These included prescriptions for small government, reduced government taxation, privatisation, industrial relations deregulation, and the curtailment of trade union power. The aspirational’s status as emerging demographic and class reality meant that such political prescriptions could be objectively conveyed as ‘real world’ imperatives, distinct from the ‘compromised’ realm of ‘politics’ and ‘ideology’. The thesis argues that the aspirational discourse can only be understood in the context of the political interests and discursive logics in relation to which it was articulated. That is, as a neo-liberal myth that both affirmed and promoted hegemonic values and interests, and responded to the social dislocations attendant to the neo-liberal reform agenda. In this respect the adoption of the aspirational discourse and the key elements articulated within it can be related to important political, social and economic developments in Australia following the commencement of neo-liberal reforms in the early 1980’s. The thesis analyses the rise to prominence of aspirational politics from a discourse theory perspective, employing an approach derived from Antonio Gramsci’s concept ii of political hegemony, and the development of this approach by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. Core theoretical