Introduction : consent, consensus, dissent and shared understandings

"The 2004 Federal election results in both Australia and the United States of America indicated a significant realignment of political views as the right gained control of all 'houses'. Results from Australia and the USA demonstrate a strong performance by Christian 'family-values' oriented parties and a marked swing in the votes of outer suburban residents to the right in a new 'moral consensus'. It would appear that citizens are seeking a sense of social and moral order in what seem to them to be permissive undisciplined societies where their security and safety are threatened by terrorism, crime and a general laxity of moral values."