The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the challenge for republicans

Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 8 February, 2012 - 12:06

The coverage of Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee celebrations has been interesting. It included this article by Andy McSmith republished in the New Zealand Herald, which describes the parading King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery as looking like it was out of a film about the Crimean War! However, it's not all boring and traditional: according to this New York Times article, Sir Paul McCartney and Elton John are amongst more modern artists who will perform for the celebrations.


This interesting blog post by Sunder Katwala describes the implications of the Queen's 60 year reign for republicans in Britain: the uncomfortable truth is that public attitudes to the monarchy have barely shifted, even in the tumultuous 1990s. Sunder talks about support for a UK republic amongst British newspapers and how it is absurd to claim the UK has "a blanket pro-Monarchy media".  Instead, he describes the challenge for republicans: 

  • to not see those who disagree with republicanism as "unthinking drones who have been duped by the propaganda";
  • instead, to understand that "a majority [of voters] remain unpersuaded that there would be any significant gain [from becoming a republic], while many would feel a deep sense of loss at the removal of this living link to British history..."

This challenge must also relate to republicans in New Zealand, to convince Kiwi voters there would be significant gains from our becoming a republic.  I'm sure we here at the Movement will be up for having a crack at it.

Comments

LJ Holden's picture
Submitted by LJ Holden on 8 February, 2012 - 21:56.

I'm sure our friends in the UK would dispute the claim that public opinion hasn't shifted, but that's not an argument we need to get into.


The underlying forces of national identity, nationhood and democracy in New Zealand - that will propel us towards a republic - have nothing to do with the Queen's position in Britain, or even New Zealand. From what I've seen there's been a little fanfare, a few excited monarchists, but no great outpouring of support for the monarchy. 

Most of the opponents of a New Zealand republic know their biggest problem at the moment isn't us (yet), it's public apathy. They have on their side a deep sense of insecurity among some New Zealanders and fear of the alternative, sprinkled with a little residual nostalgia.

All we need to do is to consistently pull apart their arguments methodically and point to the positives of a New Zealand republic.

Chair, Republican Movement - contact me online or call on +64 27 699 1350
Mike Wilkinson's picture
Submitted by Mike Wilkinson on 9 February, 2012 - 12:45.

Careful, Lewis, if you have a read of his blog post, Sander backs his comment up with reference to the views of and results from a professional pollster, Sir Robert Worcester, founder of the polling company Mori.  I'm sure there's much argument over the state of public opinion re: a UK republic, but that's beside the point of the blog post, wouldn't you agree?


I think you're not doing justice to the task before us.  Some people's fear of the alternative means that public apathy is the monarchists' advantage, not their problem.  Yes, we should pull apart their arguments and point to the positives of a republic.  However well we do that, though, I think we'll always encounter an inertia to change.  Let's bring it on!  Time to show how tough we are.

Cheers,
Mike

LJ Holden's picture
Submitted by LJ Holden on 9 February, 2012 - 17:58.

I did read the blog post, and thought that it was somewhat selective to quote just one poll - as Republic in the UK show, there are plenty of others. For the same reason we don't quote just the TVNZ polls here in NZ, it's wrong to simply just quote the Mori polls in the UK and say sentiment hasn't changed. But as I said, this isn't the issue here. The issue of what the UK does with its head of state is or the people of the UK to decide, democratically.


I  don't doubt this is a difficult task, and we have to lead public opinion rather than follow it. I don't think I'm underselling it either. It's not easy to convince the apathetic - you have to convince them the issue is worth paying attention to, and that the status quo needs to change.

But remember the reasons why we've got so many NZers now apathetic to the monarchy. It's largely because of the monarchy itself; when the Queen was crowned organisations there was no question that NZers supported the monarchy. While that means the apathetic may move back to supporting the monarchy, this is almost always the result of large events such as the Royal Wedding (so yes, apathy is a double-edged sword), long-term that doesn't change the underlying factors behind why the public has become apathetic. 

Our task is to win over the fearful and apathetic, not the hard-core of opponents of a New Zealand republic who'll never be convinced. 

Chair, Republican Movement - contact me online or call on +64 27 699 1350

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