China and Latin America: New Challenges and Opportunities for Australia. This project examines the growing international influence and strength of one of Australia's most strategically important neighbours, the People's Republic of China. Emerging commercial and diplomatic alliances between China and Latin America pose economic and political challenges for Australia and other resource exporters. This research consolidates Australia's reputation as a leader in the field of China Studies by clarif ....China and Latin America: New Challenges and Opportunities for Australia. This project examines the growing international influence and strength of one of Australia's most strategically important neighbours, the People's Republic of China. Emerging commercial and diplomatic alliances between China and Latin America pose economic and political challenges for Australia and other resource exporters. This research consolidates Australia's reputation as a leader in the field of China Studies by clarifying the nature of these challenges over the next five to ten years. The project will produce academic seminars in Sydney, Guadalajara, and Monterrey; the exchange of Australian and Mexican scholars, and joint publications in a field of study that bears direct relevance to the national interests of both countries.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354516
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Interdisciplinary Research Network on Property Rights in Natural Resource Management. Property rights are increasingly important in resource management, for titleholders and for the long-term viability of ecological resources. Property rights are historically and traditionally embedded in cultural practices and attitudes influencing the access, use and management of natural resources, ecosystem services and cultural assets. Understanding the history and future of property systems across social-e ....Interdisciplinary Research Network on Property Rights in Natural Resource Management. Property rights are increasingly important in resource management, for titleholders and for the long-term viability of ecological resources. Property rights are historically and traditionally embedded in cultural practices and attitudes influencing the access, use and management of natural resources, ecosystem services and cultural assets. Understanding the history and future of property systems across social-ecological landscapes is fragmented across disciplines, including natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. The interdisciplinary network on property rights in resource management will draw together researchers, building new synergies, novel research agendas and solutions for end users including property owners, resource managers, policy makers, planners and valuers.Read moreRead less
Assessing the Nation's Infrastructure: The Role of Financial and Non-Financial Information. Presently governments do not disclose information about the condition of legacy infrastructure, and the extent of projected (often, non-discretionary) expenditure to repair or upgrade the functionality of those assets. This project builds on an analytical framework developed by Walker Clark & Dean (2000). It examines the viability of alternative proposals for providing information to external stakeholders ....Assessing the Nation's Infrastructure: The Role of Financial and Non-Financial Information. Presently governments do not disclose information about the condition of legacy infrastructure, and the extent of projected (often, non-discretionary) expenditure to repair or upgrade the functionality of those assets. This project builds on an analytical framework developed by Walker Clark & Dean (2000). It examines the viability of alternative proposals for providing information to external stakeholders, on either an agency or ?whole of government? basis. Using a combination of case studies and stated preference data, the study seeks to derive an optimal reporting framework which can assist governments better measure and more effectively manage the nation's infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Theory and action for opposing political repression. Political repression, such as surveillance, arrests, torture and killings, sometimes rebounds against the represser in a process called "political jiu-jitsu." The aim of this project is to investigate and reformulate the concept of political jiu-jitsu in order to understand its core components and extend its applicability. To test the theory, twelve case studies will be drawn from the areas of the technology of repression, covert operations, c ....Theory and action for opposing political repression. Political repression, such as surveillance, arrests, torture and killings, sometimes rebounds against the represser in a process called "political jiu-jitsu." The aim of this project is to investigate and reformulate the concept of political jiu-jitsu in order to understand its core components and extend its applicability. To test the theory, twelve case studies will be drawn from the areas of the technology of repression, covert operations, cyberactivism and organisational struggles.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354469
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Studies on Islam and Muslim Societies. This is a stock-taking initiative to examine the strength and limitations of Australian-based research on Islam and Muslim Societies. It will survey current research activity across social science disciplines and explore its contribution to our understanding of issues and challenges that are often attributed to Islam and Muslims. The compiled research profile will also test the degree to which current research on Islam and aspects of Muslim lives has inform ....Studies on Islam and Muslim Societies. This is a stock-taking initiative to examine the strength and limitations of Australian-based research on Islam and Muslim Societies. It will survey current research activity across social science disciplines and explore its contribution to our understanding of issues and challenges that are often attributed to Islam and Muslims. The compiled research profile will also test the degree to which current research on Islam and aspects of Muslim lives has informed the policy-making process in the 'war on terror'. This initiative brings together researchers from 11 Australian universities and will culminate in a final report, also forming the basis of a full Network application.Read moreRead less
Agriculture, politics and trade: Understanding Japan's reform processes and prospects. Japan's continuing agricultural trade liberalisation is essential to Australia's future export prospects in Asia because Japan is Australia's largest export market for agricultural products. By assessing the nature and strength of key domestic factors encouraging reform of Japan's agricultural trade policy, the research will advance knowledge about an area of Japanese political economy that directly affects Au ....Agriculture, politics and trade: Understanding Japan's reform processes and prospects. Japan's continuing agricultural trade liberalisation is essential to Australia's future export prospects in Asia because Japan is Australia's largest export market for agricultural products. By assessing the nature and strength of key domestic factors encouraging reform of Japan's agricultural trade policy, the research will advance knowledge about an area of Japanese political economy that directly affects Australia's trade position and commercial policy. This knowledge will provide intellectual support to the design of current and future Australian multilateral and bilateral trade bargaining strategies at the World Trade Organization and in relation to the Australia-Japan Free Trade Agreement respectively. Read moreRead less
APEC, the WTO and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs): which way forward for Japan's agricultural trade liberalisation? Japan is an important market for Australian farm products, but high import barriers prevent the full potential of this market from being realised. Japan has consistently presented stiff opposition to agricultural trade liberalisation - in APEC, at the WTO, and in bilateral free trade negotiations. The project, by identifying which negotiating arena is most likely to deliver ....APEC, the WTO and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs): which way forward for Japan's agricultural trade liberalisation? Japan is an important market for Australian farm products, but high import barriers prevent the full potential of this market from being realised. Japan has consistently presented stiff opposition to agricultural trade liberalisation - in APEC, at the WTO, and in bilateral free trade negotiations. The project, by identifying which negotiating arena is most likely to deliver an agreement to liberalise agricultural trade, will contribute to the advancement of Australia's economic and trading interests. Improving access to the Japanese market for agricultural products in the context of a broader trade agreement will generate substantial dividends for Australian farmers as well as tangible benefits for the wider community.Read moreRead less
From Emergence to Demise: Examining the Dynamic Life Cycle of Terrorist Campaigns. Australia has made a long term commitment to the global campaign against terrorism, under the sound premise that it will take a persistent investment of energy and resources to succeed, and the notion that success in this struggle will be contingent on the depth of our knowledge about the nature of the threat. This project will contribute to this effort by enhancing global understanding of the different stages of ....From Emergence to Demise: Examining the Dynamic Life Cycle of Terrorist Campaigns. Australia has made a long term commitment to the global campaign against terrorism, under the sound premise that it will take a persistent investment of energy and resources to succeed, and the notion that success in this struggle will be contingent on the depth of our knowledge about the nature of the threat. This project will contribute to this effort by enhancing global understanding of the different stages of the dynamic life cycle of terrorist campaigns, and by formulating empirically based policy recommendations that will move beyond flawed quick-fix solutions, toward the building of a consistent long-term incremental strategy for managing a threat that will never fully disappear.Read moreRead less
The Spying Game: Australian Constructions of Espionage. The Spying Game will explore the human dimensions of espionage in the contexts of Australian history and culture. While technological aspects of spying and institutional histories of intelligence and security organisations have been prominent, very few scholarly investigations have been made of the cultures of espionage and the human dilemmas of spying. By investigating the ways in which spying has been understood and represented in Austral ....The Spying Game: Australian Constructions of Espionage. The Spying Game will explore the human dimensions of espionage in the contexts of Australian history and culture. While technological aspects of spying and institutional histories of intelligence and security organisations have been prominent, very few scholarly investigations have been made of the cultures of espionage and the human dilemmas of spying. By investigating the ways in which spying has been understood and represented in Australian society, and comparing these representations with international examples, I will contribute significant new knowledge and understanding of a burgeoning field of employment and activity during a period of crisis for the intelligence community and wider society.Read moreRead less
The challenge to member based organisations and their responses. The project will explore participants' construction of the meaning of membership in member based organisations (MBOs), and will carry out comparative analysis of MBOs' responses to membership decline, to identify common challenges and innovative responses. This will enhance Industry Partners' knowledge of members' motivations, and disincentives to membership, and outline examples of good practice in other fields. The results will o ....The challenge to member based organisations and their responses. The project will explore participants' construction of the meaning of membership in member based organisations (MBOs), and will carry out comparative analysis of MBOs' responses to membership decline, to identify common challenges and innovative responses. This will enhance Industry Partners' knowledge of members' motivations, and disincentives to membership, and outline examples of good practice in other fields. The results will offer practical strategies for improved member recruitment and retention in MBOs, which continue to play a significant role in Australian economic and social life. The research will make significant contributions to existing bodies of social capital and voluntary association theory.Read moreRead less