Autonomy, Liberalism and the Right to Culture. The question of whether or on what terms cultural diversity may be reconciled with liberal citizenship and national identity is among the most pressing issues confronting liberal democracies today. Australia, long committed to multiculturalism, faces this challenge daily in its law- and policy-making. This project tackles this question by offering a new way of thinking about the place and import of the core liberal value of individual autonomy. Now ....Autonomy, Liberalism and the Right to Culture. The question of whether or on what terms cultural diversity may be reconciled with liberal citizenship and national identity is among the most pressing issues confronting liberal democracies today. Australia, long committed to multiculturalism, faces this challenge daily in its law- and policy-making. This project tackles this question by offering a new way of thinking about the place and import of the core liberal value of individual autonomy. Now under considerable attack in political theory and from some groups for being "too sectarian", the project defends the importance of autonomy to liberal citizenship, while elaborating its moral and political implications for liberals and cultural minorities alike.Read moreRead less
After the Violence: Truth, Reconciliation and National Integration in Timor-Leste. In the aftermath of the Australian military-led intervention in 1999 and through the transition to nationhood in 2002, the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in East Timor (CAVR) has represented one of the key institutional attempts at ensuring a stable transition to a peaceful society in Timor-Leste. The internal security of Timor-Leste is of significant interest for Australia, and this project wo ....After the Violence: Truth, Reconciliation and National Integration in Timor-Leste. In the aftermath of the Australian military-led intervention in 1999 and through the transition to nationhood in 2002, the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in East Timor (CAVR) has represented one of the key institutional attempts at ensuring a stable transition to a peaceful society in Timor-Leste. The internal security of Timor-Leste is of significant interest for Australia, and this project would seek to understand if and how CAVR has succeeded in producing sustainable forms of social cohesion and integration. The project would also provide an understanding of truth and reconciliation processes that could be of value for application in future post-conflict societies.Read moreRead less
Fragility and Security: Human Rights, State Wrongs and Democratic Solidarity. This project will contribute to understanding our region and the world by providing a normative framework from which to judge the democratic value of security and human rights. In doing so, it will inform contemporary debates about border protection and clarify the role that Australian citizens should play in determining the nation's security interests and defending human rights. Moreover, an account of democratic soli ....Fragility and Security: Human Rights, State Wrongs and Democratic Solidarity. This project will contribute to understanding our region and the world by providing a normative framework from which to judge the democratic value of security and human rights. In doing so, it will inform contemporary debates about border protection and clarify the role that Australian citizens should play in determining the nation's security interests and defending human rights. Moreover, an account of democratic solidarity will be developed, which would strengthen the bonds between citizens and non-citizens from different cultures thereby enhancing Australia's reputation as a tolerant, multicultural society. The implications of the findings for contemporary debates about the treatment of asylum seekers in Australia will be considered.Read moreRead less
Cosmopolitanism and the Future of International Law. Questions about the theoretical foundation and practical effect of international law are extremely timely and of direct interest to Australia. Dominant conceptions of law have proved inadequate for understanding the capacity of international law to respond to the threats and challenges of our time. This project will assist Australians to participate more actively in generating new institutions, concepts and frameworks which will shape the futu ....Cosmopolitanism and the Future of International Law. Questions about the theoretical foundation and practical effect of international law are extremely timely and of direct interest to Australia. Dominant conceptions of law have proved inadequate for understanding the capacity of international law to respond to the threats and challenges of our time. This project will assist Australians to participate more actively in generating new institutions, concepts and frameworks which will shape the future of international law. It will ensure that international law and institutions can better respond to the questions raised and the demands made on Australia by humanitarian crises, economic globalization and the movement of peoples.Read moreRead less