The Australian Greens: Realignment Revisited in Australia

This thesis examines changes in the Australian party system through the theory of partisan realignment, arguing that the emergence and sustained success of the Australian Greens represents a fundamental shift in Australian politics. Drawing from Australian and international studies on realignment and party system reform, the thesis combines historical analysis of Australian party competition with empirical methods utilising existing survey and electoral data on Greens partisan and voter support. The thesis demonstrates that the Australian Greens have emerged as a durable `third force' in Australian politics, reconfiguring the party system in the process.