Intra- and extra-familial political socialization: The Australian case and changes over time, 1967–1990

Abstract

This paper investigates influences on party identification in the Australian electorate between 1967 and 1990. The theoretical model employed incorporates the three major influences on party identification, partisan background (intra-familial political socialization), the political socialization associated with social structural factors (extra-familial), and the effects of contemporary political factors such as issues and leaders. Concerning the political socialization associated with social structural factors, a further distinction is made between durable and transient forms of political socialization. Durable factors become incorporated with party identification and influence social group members to have particular political orientations. Transient factors have only short-term effects on the political orientations of social groups. In Australia, intra-familial political socialization has increased slightly whereas there has been a general decline in extra-familial political socialization.