The Proscription of Terrorist Organisations in Illiberal States . This project aims to investigate the use of anti-terrorism proscription powers in illiberal democracies after 2002. Although promulgated by the archetypal liberal institution – the United Nations – proscription powers are increasingly recognised as important tools of illiberal regimes in legitimising human rights abuses and suppressing political dissent. Using studies of Cameroon, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the project expl ....The Proscription of Terrorist Organisations in Illiberal States . This project aims to investigate the use of anti-terrorism proscription powers in illiberal democracies after 2002. Although promulgated by the archetypal liberal institution – the United Nations – proscription powers are increasingly recognised as important tools of illiberal regimes in legitimising human rights abuses and suppressing political dissent. Using studies of Cameroon, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the project explores the intersections of colonial proscription, UN anti–terrorism norms and illiberal regimes' security. The project will generate new comparative knowledge on the deployment of colonial instruments of control in the ‘war on terror’ and innovate conceptual insights into the global security politics of exclusion. Read moreRead less
Climate change and national security: international responses. This project aims to give a systematic account of how states facing different dynamics of threats associated with climate change have gone about developing distinct institutional responses, policy settings and practices. Climate change is increasingly recognised as a national security threat. A range of states have developed climate security strategies to address climate change that threaten defence infrastructure and contribute to p ....Climate change and national security: international responses. This project aims to give a systematic account of how states facing different dynamics of threats associated with climate change have gone about developing distinct institutional responses, policy settings and practices. Climate change is increasingly recognised as a national security threat. A range of states have developed climate security strategies to address climate change that threaten defence infrastructure and contribute to population movements, regional instability and even conflict. The findings from this project will inform recommendations for Australian policy-makers in addressing the climate change-security relationship that can be communicated to practitioners, and tailored to the needs of Australia’s security and defence establishment. This project will help Australia respond effectively to pressing impacts of environmental change.Read moreRead less
Expectations and commitments in the Australia-USA alliance. This project aims to investigate the gap between the high expectations of mutual support and the lack of detailed security commitments in the Australia-US Alliance. The project intends to use a focused approach that captures thematic aspects of the alliance through project frames and historical slices across time. Expected outcomes can advance understanding of how alliances operate as security institutions. The outcomes can help to prom ....Expectations and commitments in the Australia-USA alliance. This project aims to investigate the gap between the high expectations of mutual support and the lack of detailed security commitments in the Australia-US Alliance. The project intends to use a focused approach that captures thematic aspects of the alliance through project frames and historical slices across time. Expected outcomes can advance understanding of how alliances operate as security institutions. The outcomes can help to promote a more informed national conversation about the costs and benefits of Australia's security relationship with the United States of America (USA) and contribute to debates over the future of the Australia-USA Alliance during a period of strategic uncertainty.Read moreRead less
The World's Most Enterprising Country: North Korea's Survival in the Global Economy. This project explores the seeming paradox at the heart of North Korea: The most politically isolated state in the world sustains itself economically in large part by international trade and integration into the global economy. Adopting a framework from the economic geography literature, the project will use archival and field research to address how the North Korean state and its citizens use trade networks in E ....The World's Most Enterprising Country: North Korea's Survival in the Global Economy. This project explores the seeming paradox at the heart of North Korea: The most politically isolated state in the world sustains itself economically in large part by international trade and integration into the global economy. Adopting a framework from the economic geography literature, the project will use archival and field research to address how the North Korean state and its citizens use trade networks in East Asia and beyond to ensure their economic survival in the face of a hostile political environment. This will allow analysts to assess the implications of North Korea's economic integration for the country's development, as well as the effect that North Korea’s unique integration into the global economy has on regional and global stability.Read moreRead less
Pacific Partners? The Australia-New Zealand alliance in the Pacific Islands. This project aims to investigate how alliances operate and why they endure using an in-depth analysis of the Australia-New Zealand alliance in the Pacific Islands, the region where the alliance has focused and in which there is growing strategic and policy interest. It intends to build a micro-level analysis of the influence of the behaviors and beliefs of individuals onto existing conceptual accounts. Informed by exten ....Pacific Partners? The Australia-New Zealand alliance in the Pacific Islands. This project aims to investigate how alliances operate and why they endure using an in-depth analysis of the Australia-New Zealand alliance in the Pacific Islands, the region where the alliance has focused and in which there is growing strategic and policy interest. It intends to build a micro-level analysis of the influence of the behaviors and beliefs of individuals onto existing conceptual accounts. Informed by extensive interviews, it expects to advance understanding of how the two states negotiate differences in approaches and interests while working together to preserve their security. It anticipates pinpointing strengths and vulnerabilities in the alliance and contributing to a more informed policy debate about how it should operate.Read moreRead less
Building an Indian Ocean region. The Indian Ocean Region, of vital geopolitical importance to Australia, is the heart of the Third World - overwhelmed by chronic poverty, precarious political systems, and conflicting ethno-religious identities. This project will document attempts at constructing regional identities and institutions, and facilitate the process of 'building' a secure Region.
Uncovering the organisational dynamics of pirates and maritime terrorists. This project will develop a novel framework to assess the organisational dynamics of two major maritime threats: piracy syndicates and maritime-capable terrorist groups. The results will allow analysts and policymakers to understand the behaviour of violent maritime organisations, and to maximise the effectiveness of policies designed to stop them.
Illicit networks and emerging nuclear states. This project aims to understand how illicit networks might proliferate by tapping into the legitimate global spread of nuclear materials and dual-use technologies. Using an economic geographic framework, the project will conceptually integrate terrorists, criminals, and companies into nuclear-related trade networks, and assess the nuclear proliferation threat illicit networks pose in emerging civil nuclear states, with proof of concept through Southe ....Illicit networks and emerging nuclear states. This project aims to understand how illicit networks might proliferate by tapping into the legitimate global spread of nuclear materials and dual-use technologies. Using an economic geographic framework, the project will conceptually integrate terrorists, criminals, and companies into nuclear-related trade networks, and assess the nuclear proliferation threat illicit networks pose in emerging civil nuclear states, with proof of concept through Southeast Asian case studies. This is intended to minimise proliferation risk, and improve the Australian government and industry’s ability to participate in the global nuclear trade by increasing the effectiveness of strategic trade controls and nuclear materials security.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101123
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,359.00
Summary
Through their eyes: Rethinking the role of information operations in counterinsurgency scholarship and strategy. Western counterinsurgency forces regularly lose the 'information battle' to militarily and economically inferior insurgent forces. This project explores why and how insurgent adversaries often prove superior in shaping the perceptions of local populations and winning their support. Through case studies of East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, the project identifies the key strategic pilla ....Through their eyes: Rethinking the role of information operations in counterinsurgency scholarship and strategy. Western counterinsurgency forces regularly lose the 'information battle' to militarily and economically inferior insurgent forces. This project explores why and how insurgent adversaries often prove superior in shaping the perceptions of local populations and winning their support. Through case studies of East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, the project identifies the key strategic pillars in insurgent information operations in order to critically analyse and revise the role of information operations in counterinsurgency theory and practice. This research will advance scholarly understanding of the psychosocial dynamics of influence during conflict and challenge dominant trends in counterinsurgency theory and practice.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100477
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,000.00
Summary
The unintended consequences of foreign military training. This project aims to explore the effects of foreign military training on civil-military relations in recipient states. Developed countries are increasingly training developing countries’ militaries. While training is provided to promote traditional security goals, development, and stability, it may have unintended consequences including increasing the prospect of a coup. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, including case studies o ....The unintended consequences of foreign military training. This project aims to explore the effects of foreign military training on civil-military relations in recipient states. Developed countries are increasingly training developing countries’ militaries. While training is provided to promote traditional security goals, development, and stability, it may have unintended consequences including increasing the prospect of a coup. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, including case studies of the US and Australia, the project aims to explain the effects of these training programs, advance the understanding of civil-military relations and produce policy recommendations to improve outcomes of engagement with foreign militaries.Read moreRead less