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In Brief
- A survey asked more than 30,000 people worldwide what made them feel proud about their country.
- Australians expressed pride across a range of topics.
In moments of crisis, Australians have consistently demonstrated their exceptional ability to unite.
Whether it’s by opening their homes to those displaced, providing meals for those without, or extending a helping hand to those in dire need, Australians have shown a remarkable spirit of solidarity in the aftermath of natural disasters. This communal resilience is not only a hallmark of Australian society but also a deep source of national pride.
According to a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center, this sense of unity and support is something Australians hold dear. The US-based think tank explored what fosters national pride across different countries, posing the question, “What makes you feel proud of your country?” to over 30,000 individuals in 25 nations, allowing for open-ended responses.
Among the participants, 1,500 Australians shared their insights, highlighting how this collective spirit and willingness to support each other during challenging times stands as a testament to their national identity.
The centre interviewed 1,500 Australians for the report.
Australians, it found, are most proud of the people of their country.
Out of any other trait this was the most common answer, with 25 per cent of those surveyed saying “people” were a source of Australian pride.
Mateship a source of national pride
A quarter of those it surveyed in Australia said the “mateship” they feel with other Australians, as well as how they “lend a hand” in times of need, such as natural disasters, were a source of pride.
One Australian woman responded that she was proud of mateship and community spirit: “Australians are known for their friendliness, resilience, and willingness to help each other, especially in tough times.”
Demographer Liz Allen said the findings of the report were heartening.
“Australians are saying it’s the people that make us strong,” she told SBS News.
“[They’re saying] it’s the people that make us proud to say we’re Australian, and I reckon that that’s something that we can all be proud of, and all take stock of that at the end of the day, we may not agree with each other on everything, but we know that we’ve got each other’s backs in a time of crisis.
“It is incredibly heartening to know that the loudest voices on social media that are expressing great discontent with the place do not represent the everyday views that Australians have.”
Australia’s social programs were also mentioned by those surveyed — particularly Medicare. One man responded: “Free universal health care would be my #1 point of pride in Australia.”
The report said people mentioned the contributions and “rich cultural history” of Australia’s Indigenous people as well as “how welcoming the country is to immigrants and to all nationalities and religions”.
Allen said the data did not reflect the narrative of an overwhelmingly “angry” populous.
“The popular narrative has been that Australia’s democracy is dead, or being eroded and the place is falling apart, and folks are turning to extremist parties,” Allen said.
“This data doesn’t reflect an angry population — this data reflects quite a harmonious group of people who are able to express both their joy and their concern without fear.”
Australians are proud of their democracy
Australia’s systems of governance and politics were also a source of national pride for 21 per cent of those surveyed.
In fact, our political system was among the top three mentioned when people were asked about their source of pride.
Australia’s compulsory voting system was also cited by some respondents.
Australia ranked behind Sweden, Germany, Canada and the UK and was equal with the Netherlands when it came to pride in political systems. But in each of those countries, and South Korea, the political system was among the top three sources of pride among respondents.
Australians, along with Spaniards, were also proud of their way of life, praising their “relaxed” nature of the lifestyle, and “being able to live a relatively carefree life”.
“I … feel Australia is a good place to live and raise children,” said one Australian man. “Happy place,” said another.
Those surveyed frequently mentioned Australia Day as a source of pride. This aligned with a worldwide tendency for people to express pride in their national customs and traditions.
However, Australians were in the bottom tier of those who expressed pride in their national arts and culture.
Are most Australians proud of their country?
The survey found 14 per cent of Australian respondents did not feel a sense of pride in their country.
People who did not identify with the governing party — in Australia’s case, the Labor party — were more likely to say they are not proud of their country. This was about 17 per cent of respondents, compared to 6 per cent of those that did identify with the governing party but who did not feel pride.
Immigration was cited as a reason — with one 50 year-old respondent saying: “The Australian values we developed over generations have been eroded by poor immigration policies and weak politicians too scared to offend minority groups. It is now considered racist to advocate for old Australian values.”
Allen said the results of the report indicated there were potential signs of fracture.
“Particularly around inequality and differing views on the threats to the country. So if we were to ask what the main threats to the country are, we’d see a very different story.”
The topics that Australians least cited as a source of pride included: religion, military, and surprisingly — sport.
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