Massey Documents by Type
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294
Browse
2 results
Search Results
Item The Wellington protest, 2022 : signs of franchised fascism in New Zealand : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) Fairhall, ZacharyThis thesis critically examines various signs displayed over the course of the February/March 2022 anti-lockdown protest, which convoyed from around the country to Wellington and occupied Parliament grounds for three weeks, resulting in significant disruption to the city damage to Parliament grounds, and injuries to Police officers. I collected and collated images of these signs before analysing the signs’ language in order to better understand the form of socio-political movement this protest constitutes. I argue the signs of the Wellington Protest convey strong evidence of fascist language and sentiments, show transnational connections with other anti-government protest movements in the model of a globally connected franchise, and constitute the early stages of a fascist political movement that has potential flourish in New Zealand given the current strength of populist sentiment. However, the current evidence indicates that scholars and security professionals appear to have fundamentally misunderstood the concept and practices of fascism, and continue to underestimate the political forces revealed by the protest. Security scholars and professionals have an obligation to keep New Zealand informed of, and safe from the progenitors of political violence. By not understanding the anti-lockdown protest as part of a transnationally connected, franchise-able fascist movement, these scholars and practitioners forego important insight into the activities of relevant groups who, after the protest, establish political parties propaganda radio, and community fundraising networks.Item Maverick politicians : their beliefs and actions : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Policy at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand(Massey University, 1999) Boyd, Hilary ChristineThrough interviews with maverick politicians and political commentators, this research explores the beliefs and actions of maverick politicians, a sub-group of actors within the policy-making process. It builds on previous research which focused primarily on the characteristics and beliefs of maverick politicians. This research was undertaken to ascertain the process by which the politicians attain the maverick label; explore the environment within which these politicians operate; examine the methods maverick politicians use to achieve change in policy, parliamentary practices and the political landscape; and determine their effectiveness in implementing change. Attaining the maverick status involved politicians undergoing a process of alienation from their party. They struggled to implement policy initiatives and adopted an oppositional approach as they battled with an antidemocratic policy-making process. Often unable to effect significant policy changes maverick politicians attempted reformation of the parliamentary practices and the political landscape. However, these attempts merely entrenched existing undemocratic processes. The research findings suggest that because of their underlying beliefs of how Parliament should operate maverick politicians choose to give priority to their constituents rather than to their party and support a notion of democracy that is participatory rather than representative. These choices contribute towards their maverick behaviour; result in alienation from their party; and limit their long-term effectiveness as policy-makers by leading them to focus on reformation. It is likely that, unless changes which accommodate politicians with differing views of representation and democracy occur within the parliamentary and party systems, there will continue to be disillusioned MPs who become alienated from their political parties and follow the maverick path.
