Dean Jaensch
Encyclopedia
Dean Jaensch is an Australia
n political scientist
and a retired Professor of Political and International Studies at The Flinders University of South Australia
. Jaensch was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
, a Master of Arts
and PhD
from the University of Adelaide
. He studies political parties, electoral politics and voting behaviour, Australian politics, State
politics, Northern Territory
politics, comparative politics
within the Anglosphere
and empirical methodology. He is the author of over 16 books and a prolific contributor to academic publications. His association with media organisations commenced in 1973, as a political commentator for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
. Currently, Jaensch is a columnist for The Advertiser
, an occasional lecturer at the Flinders University, and sometimes works as a guest speaker at various events. Jaensch advocates proportional representation
and an end to compulsory voting
in Australia (though not necessarily compulsory enrolment).
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n political scientist
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and a retired Professor of Political and International Studies at The Flinders University of South Australia
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
. Jaensch was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. He studies political parties, electoral politics and voting behaviour, Australian politics, State
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
politics, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
politics, comparative politics
Comparative politics
Comparative politics is a subfield of political science, characterized by an empirical approach based on the comparative method. Arend Lijphart argues that comparative politics does not have a substantive focus in itself, but rather a methodological one: it focuses on "the how but does not specify...
within the Anglosphere
Anglosphere
Anglosphere is a neologism which refers to those nations with English as the most common language. The term can be used more specifically to refer to those nations which share certain characteristics within their cultures based on a linguistic heritage, through being former British colonies...
and empirical methodology. He is the author of over 16 books and a prolific contributor to academic publications. His association with media organisations commenced in 1973, as a political commentator for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
. Currently, Jaensch is a columnist for The Advertiser
The Advertiser (Australia)
The Advertiser is a daily tabloid-format newspaper published in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. First published as a broadsheet named "The South Australian Advertiser" on 12 July 1858, it is currently printed daily from Monday to Saturday. A Sunday edition exists under the name of the Sunday...
, an occasional lecturer at the Flinders University, and sometimes works as a guest speaker at various events. Jaensch advocates proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
and an end to compulsory voting
Compulsory voting
Compulsory voting is a system in which electors are obliged to vote in elections or attend a polling place on voting day. If an eligible voter does not attend a polling place, he or she may be subject to punitive measures such as fines, community service, or perhaps imprisonment if fines are unpaid...
in Australia (though not necessarily compulsory enrolment).
Selected bibliography
- A Plague On Both Your Houses: Minor Parties in Australia, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1998 (with David Mathieson).
- Power Politics: Australia's Party System, 3rd ed., Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1994.
- The Liberals, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1994.
- The Politics of Australia, Macmillan, Melbourne, 1992.