Auspol vs. Trumpol
Why are Australians engaging more with US politics than our own?
The United States is a superpower like no other. Its economic, technological and military powers make the US a world leader in almost every sense of the word. Cultural influence, likely derived from America’s large impact on the world entertainment industry, has seen the US become a focal point of reference for social trends, particularly in Australia. This influence is extended to the political scene, where many Australians have found themselves immersed in the world of US politics while neglecting a lot of important political events happening at home.
So why are Australians so invested in US politics when half of us can barely keep up with national events happening around us? Given my own personal experience with exposure to political affairs, I would assume one large reason lies in the extensive media coverage that US political affairs receive from Australian broadcasters, publishers and online sources. While it goes without saying that it is important to keep up to date with international affairs, particularly events that impact Australia, media outlets often take advantage of the “clickability” of certain stories, especially those regarding a particular US president. In recent years, the appointment of President Trump and his tendencies for the outrageous has piqued further interest in US politics in Australia. Trump’s outlandish behaviour has sparked a never ending series of memes, satirical articles and other forms of highly spreadable media that makes it easy for people to understand the basic concepts being discussed. This type of media exposure has a huge role to play in the Australian public’s investment in US politics, as our own political affairs are rarely painted in such a trending and pop culture-esque light. Writer and political sociologist Dennis Altman claims that our media representation of the US political climate paints a picture of obsession:
“If you look at the way news is covered in Australia, sometimes you actually have to remind yourself we’re not in the US; Trump is not our president, literally.”
Perhaps the greatest injustice that has come from this national fascination with US political events is the imbalance in engagement levels from the Australian public when political issues come to light in both the US and Australia. One glaring example of this can be found in the Australian public’s overall involvement and reaction to the US and Australia’s unfair treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.
President Trump’s pledge to “build a wall and make Mexico pay for it” has received extensive coverage over the past few years, much of this from Australian media outlets. Australian audiences and media outlets have created memes, provided scathing critiques and shared their opinions on this issue to a great extent (and rightly so). Below is an example of a news story posted to the ABC Facebook page, portraying one artist’s reaction to Trump’s pledge to build a wall. Compare the engagement levels (likes, comments, views and shares) to a story shared by the same page, speaking of the horrific conditions asylum seekers are detained in on Manus Island at the hands of the Australian government.
While the story about Manus Island received slightly more comments than the story about Trump’s Walk of Fame star, the latter still received a far higher level of engagement in the form of reactions and shares. I for one, feel as though the media I am exposed to has kept me up to date with the atrocities of the Trump government and every insane claim the US President has made since his 2016 campaign. However, until recently through my own research, I was essentially in the dark when it came to even the most basic details of the appalling conditions many asylum seekers and refugees are subjected to when detained by the Australian government.
The question remains: why are we so oblivious to own political issues yet so in tune with similar events happening in the US?
Perhaps popular culture is to blame, with the glamorisation of the the US political sphere through hit shows such as House of Cards, Scandal and Madam Secretary. Maybe Australian politics is perceived as more complex and less entertaining, thus gaging less of an emotive investment and response. Possibly some of us feel it is easier to turn a blind eye to the fundamental flaws that exist within our current political climate, rather than educate ourselves and attempt to facilitate change. Whatever the reason for Australia’s obsession with US politics, it’s vital that we recognise the importance of showing just as much involvement in political issues happening here at home.
