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Agrarian Change and the Initial Development of an Aboriginal Bourgeoisie in A ustralia
Author(s) -
Smith A.J.,
MacWilliam Scott
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of agrarian change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.63
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1471-0366
pISSN - 1471-0358
DOI - 10.1111/joac.12050
Subject(s) - indigenous , opposition (politics) , agrarian society , politics , bourgeoisie , political economy , petite bourgeoisie , economy , political science , economics , agriculture , geography , law , archaeology , ecology , biology
While the commercial ambitions of indigenous capitalists are continuously displayed in A ustralia, little is known about the origins and initial development of the class. In this essay one area of the country, the north‐west of Western A ustralia ( WA ), is chosen to show how changes in the principal agricultural industry opened space for Aboriginal commerce. Despite the opposition of State governments and existing firms that dominated cattle and sheep production, this space was enlarged as pastoralism underwent major changes. The rise of the indigenous bourgeoisie was also facilitated by the growing power of the class's political representatives in electoral and in executive politics. Parallel with changes in A ustralian federalism, which gave the national government increased financial and other powers, Aboriginal representatives captured this shift for commercial advantage.