Editing Patrick White (section)

=== Politics ===
In the 1930s, White was not politically engaged, but was sympathetic to the [[Francoist Spain|Francoist]] cause in the [[Spanish Civil War]] and supported Britain's policy of [[Appeasement|appeasing]] Hitler.{{Sfnp|Marr|1991|pp=164-65, 172-75}} He later expressed regret over his complacency regarding European fascism.{{Sfnp|Thomas|2024|pp=165-67}} On his return to Australia after the Second World War he had little interest in politics but routinely voted for the [[Coalition (Australia)|conservative coalition]] in elections.{{Sfnp|Marr|1991|p=491}} He became involved in politics in 1969 when he joined protests against the Vietnam war and conscription of Australian troops for the conflict. He also supported Trade Union [[Green ban|Green Bans]] against development proposals which threatened the urban environment. He publicly supported the [[Australian Labor Party]] in the federal elections of 1972, 1974 and 1975 despite a falling out with the prime minister [[Gough Whitlam]] over sand mining on [[K'gari|Fraser Island]].{{Sfnp|Webby|2012}} Following the dismissal of the Whitlam government in November 1975, he became a prominent advocate for an Australian republic.{{Sfnp|Marr|1991|pp=557-58}} He was a public supporter of Aboriginal self-determination and privately donated money towards Aboriginal education.{{Sfnp|Wilde|Hooton|Andrews|1994}} From 1981, he became a leading public figure in campaigns for nuclear disarmament and continued his support for various environmental causes. Marr states that a common thread running through his political interventions was his opposition to [[plutocracy]].{{Sfnp|Marr|1991|pp=611-12, 616}} Academic Martin Thomas argues that White was acutely aware of his own privileged upbringing and this drove his later concern about social injustice.{{Sfnp|Thomas|2024|pp=165-67}}