War crimes and the Japanese military, 1941-1945. During the Second World War, Japanese military forces in Asia and the Pacific committed extraordinary atrocities against prisoners-of-war, civilian internees and local populations. These atrocities shocked Japan's Western enemies, not least because Japanese military behaviour in the early 20th century had been celebrated as remarkably humane. This project seeks to explain Japanese wartime brutality, identifying the specific circumstances in which ....War crimes and the Japanese military, 1941-1945. During the Second World War, Japanese military forces in Asia and the Pacific committed extraordinary atrocities against prisoners-of-war, civilian internees and local populations. These atrocities shocked Japan's Western enemies, not least because Japanese military behaviour in the early 20th century had been celebrated as remarkably humane. This project seeks to explain Japanese wartime brutality, identifying the specific circumstances in which it occurred and considering the particular wartime context. It challenges the prevalent explanation of Japanese wartime violence which locates the causes of brutality in deeply rooted aspects of Japanese national culture. This research is expected to contribute to understandings of war and violence.Read moreRead less
Tibet's rivers in the Anthropocene: history and present trajectories. This project aims to produce a multifaceted history of the eastern Tibetan Plateau's rivers, focusing on the increasing human impacts during the Anthropocene. It will combine data from archival, cultural and oral sources in multiple languages with the results of scientific studies of river flow, water quality, and sediment, ice, and tree-rings analysis. The project will produce both historical narratives and graphic representa ....Tibet's rivers in the Anthropocene: history and present trajectories. This project aims to produce a multifaceted history of the eastern Tibetan Plateau's rivers, focusing on the increasing human impacts during the Anthropocene. It will combine data from archival, cultural and oral sources in multiple languages with the results of scientific studies of river flow, water quality, and sediment, ice, and tree-rings analysis. The project will produce both historical narratives and graphic representations that model past land and water usage. The results of the project will underpin environmental policy for this hydrologically and ecologically crucial region, including the development of a paradigm of care based on the region's indigenous cultural resources.Read moreRead less
Understanding Japan's human-centred environmentalism. Japanese environmental activism has influenced attitudes and policymaking on the environment in Japan and worldwide for half a century. This project will demonstrate the strengths and limitations of Japan’s human-centred environmentalism and will encourage us to reconsider the tension between human satisfaction and environmental protection.
Beyond Allied Histories: Dayak Memories of World War II in Borneo. Western histories of wars focus overwhelmingly on the experiences of European participants. This project explores World War II in Borneo, a highly significant but little-known Australian wartime site, by focusing on the marginalised memories of the island’s indigenous Dayak peoples. By juxtaposing Dayak memories of the war with those of Australian soldiers and prisoners-of-war, the project aims to both advance scholarly understan ....Beyond Allied Histories: Dayak Memories of World War II in Borneo. Western histories of wars focus overwhelmingly on the experiences of European participants. This project explores World War II in Borneo, a highly significant but little-known Australian wartime site, by focusing on the marginalised memories of the island’s indigenous Dayak peoples. By juxtaposing Dayak memories of the war with those of Australian soldiers and prisoners-of-war, the project aims to both advance scholarly understanding of Dayak codes of otherness and relatedness, and cast new light on the war itself.Read moreRead less
Repatriation and release of Japanese war criminals 1946-1958: Southeast Asia, Japan and the Great Powers. Japanese war criminals held in Southeast Asia were repatriated and released in Japan from the late 1940s. Releases were negotiated between Japan and the nation that had convicted the prisoner. The project provides new understandings of the emergence of Southeast Asian states in regional diplomacy and of Japan's re-emergence as a regional power.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101746
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$344,208.00
Summary
Contaminated life: hibakusha in Japan in the nuclear age. This project will compare aesthetic reflections of hibakusha, or those who have been exposed to prolonged doses of radioactive contamination, after the 1945 and 2001 contaminations. Comparing their core concerns, how has the social image of hibakusha changed? What do hibakusha reflections imply for a new ethics in individual-state and human-nature dyads?
Northeast Asia and the Korean War: legacies of hot and cold wars in contemporary constructions of the region. This project will provide the first comprehensive study of the socio-economic, cultural and ideological impact of the Korean War on Korea's northeast Asian neighbours: China, Japan, Russia's Far East, Taiwan and Mongolia. It will deepen understanding of the region's cold war and of contemporary moves to and create a post cold war northeast Asia.
The Politics of Guilt in Asia: the Afterlife of Japanese War Crimes. This project aims to investigate the perception of Japan’s continuing guilt for atrocities committed during the Second World War. Until the 1970s, it was widely believed that Japan had resolved its guilt by accepting punishment, paying recompense and apologising, and could move on. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the process by which the idea of Japan’s guilt was revived to become a major issue in East Asian ....The Politics of Guilt in Asia: the Afterlife of Japanese War Crimes. This project aims to investigate the perception of Japan’s continuing guilt for atrocities committed during the Second World War. Until the 1970s, it was widely believed that Japan had resolved its guilt by accepting punishment, paying recompense and apologising, and could move on. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the process by which the idea of Japan’s guilt was revived to become a major issue in East Asian and world affairs. Expected outcomes include enhanced understanding of how historical grievance is constructed and why it has come to be considered always open to review. Anticipated benefits include a greater understanding of the changing ways in which historical grievance is used, both politically and ethically.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101282
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$364,237.00
Summary
China's economic ideas: From Bretton Woods to Bandung. This project aims to provide a comprehensive account of China’s role in shaping the post-World War II international economic order. Though not widely known today, Nationalist and Communist China played a leading role in two key international economic conferences between 1944 and 1955: Bretton Woods and Bandung. By studying recently declassified Chinese archives, the project aims to uncover how nationalism shaped China’s economic ideas, and t ....China's economic ideas: From Bretton Woods to Bandung. This project aims to provide a comprehensive account of China’s role in shaping the post-World War II international economic order. Though not widely known today, Nationalist and Communist China played a leading role in two key international economic conferences between 1944 and 1955: Bretton Woods and Bandung. By studying recently declassified Chinese archives, the project aims to uncover how nationalism shaped China’s economic ideas, and the historical origins of 21st century Chinese economic institutions and initiatives. Understanding China’s post-war economic ideas is expected to refine theories of economic nationalism, and help policymakers understand how China seeks to shape the global economy.Read moreRead less
Beyond Domestic Borders: Transnational Mobility in the Making of Modern Korea, 1920-1945. The project offers a new perspective on gender and colonial history by examining crossborder movements and networks of women and men in and beyond East Asia in the early to mid-twentieth century. It focuses on Korea, which had the distinctive experience of being colonised by Japan, a non-Western colonial power. Through analysis of archival and visual materials, it explores the ways in which Korea’s interact ....Beyond Domestic Borders: Transnational Mobility in the Making of Modern Korea, 1920-1945. The project offers a new perspective on gender and colonial history by examining crossborder movements and networks of women and men in and beyond East Asia in the early to mid-twentieth century. It focuses on Korea, which had the distinctive experience of being colonised by Japan, a non-Western colonial power. Through analysis of archival and visual materials, it explores the ways in which Korea’s interactions with Europe, North America, and other Asian countries transformed gender norms and bodily practices during Japanese rule. The project will deepen our understanding of the impact of transnational flow of people and ideas in the making of one of Australia’s most important partners in the region.Read moreRead less