Sacred Rules, Secular Revelations: The Conceptions of Rights in Pre-Modern Europe. This project provides a deeper understanding of the origins of and background to contemporary debates on the role of religion in law, and vice-versa. This is particularly relevant at a time when law and human rights face questions about their moral and normative qualities. It will contribute to debates about the origins of the humanities in higher learning by reminding us that such studies had their origins in re ....Sacred Rules, Secular Revelations: The Conceptions of Rights in Pre-Modern Europe. This project provides a deeper understanding of the origins of and background to contemporary debates on the role of religion in law, and vice-versa. This is particularly relevant at a time when law and human rights face questions about their moral and normative qualities. It will contribute to debates about the origins of the humanities in higher learning by reminding us that such studies had their origins in resolving practical problems and conflicts, rather than esoteric ends. This project will further reinforce Australia's reputation for integrating sound scholarship with innovative methodology and inter-disciplinarity in pre-modern European studies. Read moreRead less
Understanding forms of violence and their regulation in Australian history. In contemporary Australia inter-personal violence (such as domestic violence, the abuse of children, Aboriginal deaths in custody, the Cronulla riots) occupies intense media and public interest. Governmental responses to violence (through policing or the courts) themselves rest on the exercise of authorised and regulated control which itself may be considered a form of violence. In examining the historical changes in vio ....Understanding forms of violence and their regulation in Australian history. In contemporary Australia inter-personal violence (such as domestic violence, the abuse of children, Aboriginal deaths in custody, the Cronulla riots) occupies intense media and public interest. Governmental responses to violence (through policing or the courts) themselves rest on the exercise of authorised and regulated control which itself may be considered a form of violence. In examining the historical changes in violence, its social impact and media resonances, and the public policy responses to it, this research seeks to contribute to contemporary understanding of these important questions on the basis of a greater appreciation of the specifically Australian history of these phenomena.Read moreRead less
Lawyers, Civil Society and the State in Post-colonial Malaysia. This study investigates how Malaysian lawyers have mobilized to defend core legal values in response to key political events in Malaysian history. It will contribute to Australian understanding of civil society and the rule of law in our regional neighbour and build bridges between Malaysian and Australian lawyers and scholars. The development of deeper respect for the rule of law in this region plays an important role in increasing ....Lawyers, Civil Society and the State in Post-colonial Malaysia. This study investigates how Malaysian lawyers have mobilized to defend core legal values in response to key political events in Malaysian history. It will contribute to Australian understanding of civil society and the rule of law in our regional neighbour and build bridges between Malaysian and Australian lawyers and scholars. The development of deeper respect for the rule of law in this region plays an important role in increasing regional stability and creating a safe and more predictable environment. Understanding the role that lawyers play in this process is a vital component of regional security.Read moreRead less