Ian Howells reviews the origin story of community independents movement, The Indi Way (2023).

The Indi Way — a lesson in political engagement
For me, the message running through The Indi Way is encapsulated particularly well in Chapter Six, “How Did We Stand Out?” by Amanda Aldous. I am certainly not suggesting that readers simply buy the book and read this one chapter—there is much to learn throughout the book about political manoeuvring, campaigning and the mechanics of political engagement. But this chapter provides a useful lens through which to understand much of what follows.

The authors describe how their adult children initially viewed politics as “just a dirty game – full of lies, hollow promises and self-interest.” Against that perception, the Indi experience demonstrates another possibility: politics can also be about relationships, participation, communication and community. As Aldous makes clear, “strategic branding, marketing, and communications are essential to a successful political campaign.” The Indi Way demonstrates how these elements were brought together in a dynamic campaign.

The word dynamic means being characterised by constant change, activity or high energy—and The Indi Way provides a detailed account of how these characteristics were employed. From branding and communications to grassroots organising and community conversations, the campaign continually adapted to the circumstances in which it found itself.

What I found particularly interesting was the recognition that political communication is hardly a modern invention. The Indi Way points to around 1,500 examples of political campaign graffiti at Pompeii, reminding us that people have been attempting to influence public opinion and communicate political messages for thousands of years. What has changed is the sophistication of the tools and the ways in which communities can participate.

Central to the Indi story is Voices for Indi (V4I), active community groups that facilitates processes designed with and for the community, enabling people to engage with politics rather than simply being recipients of political messages. This is where the book's broader significance lies. It demonstrates that campaigning is not only about persuading people to support a candidate; it can also be about creating the conditions in which people become participants in the political process.

A speech by Cate Kennedy's brought this message into the present with particular force. Her words were inspirational, powerful and challenging, invoking in the audience a sense of the responsibility we all share to protect and nurture our democracy. She reminded us that democracy is not something we can simply take for granted: it depends upon our willingness to make our vote count, to participate in civil society, and to consider the moral purpose behind what we are trying to achieve together.

For me, this provided a fitting conclusion to the ideas explored throughout The Indi Way. The book is not simply a record of an independent political campaign. It is a case study in how people can engage with politics differently—and a reminder that democracy ultimately depends upon citizens choosing to participate in it.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson is that politics is not merely something done to us by political parties and politicians. It is something we create together through conversation, participation, responsibility and a shared sense of what we are trying to achieve as a society.

The Indi Way is available for borrowing from Darwin and Palmerston public libraries.