What does it mean to be Australian? This work argues that good citizenship depends on discernment of what is worthy of respect and pride and what is shameful in public life. Arguing against the view that citizenship is an imagined construct, it reveals the significance of citizenship to the everyday life of Australians.

What does it mean to be Australian? How has citizenship developed since Federation, given its British colonial origins? Australians have much to celebrate, but also things to be ashamed of. Brian Galligan and Winsome Roberts compellingly argue that good citizenship depends on discernment of what is worthy of respect and pride and what is shameful in public life. In light of current controversies, such as the rights of refugees and the ongoing inequalities of Indigenous Australians, this contention becomes even more compelling and urgent. Arguing against the view that citizenship is an imagined construct, the authors reveal the significance of citizenship to the everyday life of Australians. This lucid and accessible book invites the reader to think beyond simplistic answers to the question of what it means to be an Australian in 2004.