Sanctuary and Security in Contemporary Australia: Muslim Women's Networks 1980 - 2005. This project makes an important contribution to Muslim women's participation in public life. It researches the scope and potential of social networks and, crucially, acknowledges that both religious practice and secular activities are legitimate facets of everyday multicultural society. The project proposes a dynamic account of Muslim women's achievements and challenges, highlighting the causes and symptoms of ....Sanctuary and Security in Contemporary Australia: Muslim Women's Networks 1980 - 2005. This project makes an important contribution to Muslim women's participation in public life. It researches the scope and potential of social networks and, crucially, acknowledges that both religious practice and secular activities are legitimate facets of everyday multicultural society. The project proposes a dynamic account of Muslim women's achievements and challenges, highlighting the causes and symptoms of past and present insecurity. The key concept of sanctuary - as - security is both innovative and significant to contemporary political debate. The project will result in a reflective organisational history, online oral history, policy recommendations for the advancement of Muslim women, and scholarly publications.Read moreRead less
The Residential Segregation/Desegregation Behaviour of Immigrant Minority Groups in Sydney, Australia's Largest Ethnicity. There is in western nations a developing crisis with multiculturalism as the continual build up of ethnic groups in segregated areas to levels not originally contemplated occurs, exacerbated by the continued decline in birth rates in the host communities. This has been compounded by their relatively disadvantaged situation within growing segregated areas. As a result governm ....The Residential Segregation/Desegregation Behaviour of Immigrant Minority Groups in Sydney, Australia's Largest Ethnicity. There is in western nations a developing crisis with multiculturalism as the continual build up of ethnic groups in segregated areas to levels not originally contemplated occurs, exacerbated by the continued decline in birth rates in the host communities. This has been compounded by their relatively disadvantaged situation within growing segregated areas. As a result governments are struggling to develop new integration policies. Our goal is to portray and assess the Australian situation relative to that in comparative countries and in doing so to place this crisis and proposed responses into context within the Australian scene.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354600
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Sources of Insecurity: Local, National and Global. Globalizing violence and the War on Terror have brought with them an acute sense of insecurity. The present study is intended to map and understand sources of that insecurity, both from ?below? and ?above?. From below, the project analyses the cultural-political and socio-economic conditions of violence on the ground, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. From above, it documents Western representations of recent arenas of violence. The aim of th ....Sources of Insecurity: Local, National and Global. Globalizing violence and the War on Terror have brought with them an acute sense of insecurity. The present study is intended to map and understand sources of that insecurity, both from ?below? and ?above?. From below, the project analyses the cultural-political and socio-economic conditions of violence on the ground, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. From above, it documents Western representations of recent arenas of violence. The aim of the project is to research the commonplace claim that it is reassertions of older forms of traditionalism or cultural and civilizational difference that are the well-spring of contemporary global violence, including terrorism.Read moreRead less
Anatomies of Empire: Race, Evolution and Scientific Networks in the Twentieth-Century British World. Our research demonstrates how Australian scientists, Australian field experiences, and Australian materials were central to comparative anatomy, evolutionary theory and race science in the twentieth century. This study uncovers for the first time the powerful imperial network of racial biologists and physical anthropologists whose influential studies of human nature and racial classification deri ....Anatomies of Empire: Race, Evolution and Scientific Networks in the Twentieth-Century British World. Our research demonstrates how Australian scientists, Australian field experiences, and Australian materials were central to comparative anatomy, evolutionary theory and race science in the twentieth century. This study uncovers for the first time the powerful imperial network of racial biologists and physical anthropologists whose influential studies of human nature and racial classification derived from Australian work. These ideas about what it means to be human, hitherto unexamined historically, continue to underpin our contemporary assumptions about ethnic difference, Aboriginal status, multiculturalism, and national identity.Read moreRead less
Measuring and mapping the experience of racism in Australia. This is the first empirical assessment of the circumstances and frequency of the experience of racism in Australia. A telephone survey, 12000 respondents, and fieldwork in ten localities, are the major method. Spatial and social variations in the experience of racism will be analysed. Social construction theory will be tested as an explanation of such variations. Regional anti-racism packages will be developed and tested in the field. ....Measuring and mapping the experience of racism in Australia. This is the first empirical assessment of the circumstances and frequency of the experience of racism in Australia. A telephone survey, 12000 respondents, and fieldwork in ten localities, are the major method. Spatial and social variations in the experience of racism will be analysed. Social construction theory will be tested as an explanation of such variations. Regional anti-racism packages will be developed and tested in the field. Decision-support tools for local authorities and communities to combat racism will be provided. A unique racism database will underpin a scholarly monograph, doctoral dissertation and a series of refereed articles.Read moreRead less
Government, Religion and the Problem of Moral Order in Contemporary Papua New Guinea. Successful Australian international relations depend on understanding the popular culture within which neighbouring people formulate grievances and desires for change. PNG is physically close to Australia; it was an administered colony and today as a regional ally it receives much Australian aid. Many Australian organizations, companies and citizens reside in PNG. This project will provide accurate knowledge o ....Government, Religion and the Problem of Moral Order in Contemporary Papua New Guinea. Successful Australian international relations depend on understanding the popular culture within which neighbouring people formulate grievances and desires for change. PNG is physically close to Australia; it was an administered colony and today as a regional ally it receives much Australian aid. Many Australian organizations, companies and citizens reside in PNG. This project will provide accurate knowledge of how popular religious movements can provide a political language for voicing everyday expectations and grievances. Social and cultural changes can produce new perceptions of injustice that are voiced as a moral critique of present day government, where the future kingdom of God or of the dead is used as a point of ethical contrast.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354802
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$40,000.00
Summary
Migration and its socio-economic and cultural consequences in Australia. This network will develop an interdisciplinary multi-layered approach to understanding migration processes and the related social, health and economic effects. With the input of scholars in diverse fields, the network will play a significant role in the development of a national migration database, in training early career researchers and in developing social policy. It will also stimulate new areas of research, integrate t ....Migration and its socio-economic and cultural consequences in Australia. This network will develop an interdisciplinary multi-layered approach to understanding migration processes and the related social, health and economic effects. With the input of scholars in diverse fields, the network will play a significant role in the development of a national migration database, in training early career researchers and in developing social policy. It will also stimulate new areas of research, integrate the dynamics of migrant populations with migrants' own experiences and perceptions, add to knowledge in the priority area 'safeguarding Australia', and enhance our understanding of the cultural, social and economic impact on Australia of a significant migrant presence.Read moreRead less
Contemporary Chinese transnationalism from an international perspective: Australia and France compared. The recent focus on terrorism and security has heightened concerns that migrant transnational linkages affect social and political security. The project will help understanding of the transnational ties of Chinese and other migrants through comparison of their international social, economic, and faith-based practices and relationships. One aim is to assess whether common negative perceptions ....Contemporary Chinese transnationalism from an international perspective: Australia and France compared. The recent focus on terrorism and security has heightened concerns that migrant transnational linkages affect social and political security. The project will help understanding of the transnational ties of Chinese and other migrants through comparison of their international social, economic, and faith-based practices and relationships. One aim is to assess whether common negative perceptions about transnationalism are accurate. Also examined is the capacity for such stereotypes to cause resistance among migrants and the strategies available to policy makers to overcome such responses with their potentially destabilising impact on the host societies and their security;Read moreRead less
Comparing racism in Australian and Canada. Surveys of racist attitudes in Australia and Canada present a unique opportunity for comparative analysis. This project will demonstrate the central influence of place and context to attitudes to and experiences of racism. International comparative assessments of racism are rare. Comparable key concepts will be agreed, e.g.: attitudes towards cultural diversity and national identity; extent and experience of racism; multicultural policies. Overall findi ....Comparing racism in Australian and Canada. Surveys of racist attitudes in Australia and Canada present a unique opportunity for comparative analysis. This project will demonstrate the central influence of place and context to attitudes to and experiences of racism. International comparative assessments of racism are rare. Comparable key concepts will be agreed, e.g.: attitudes towards cultural diversity and national identity; extent and experience of racism; multicultural policies. Overall findings and spatial variations will be compared, aiming at publication in international journals. It will strengthen a significant relationship between geographers in Sydney and Vancouver. International recognition of the Sydney-based research cluster on racism will be enhanced.Read moreRead less
Ancient and Medieval Identity-shifts and the Construction of Identities in Post-Yugoslav Space. The most significant benefit would be in the area of multicultural policies, an area in which Australia is already seen as a model for other countries. Specifically, the issues of acculturation, formation, hybridization, and the disappearance or persistence of ethnic identities over time are integral to developing culturally sensitive and socially advantageous policies of multiculturalism and immigrat ....Ancient and Medieval Identity-shifts and the Construction of Identities in Post-Yugoslav Space. The most significant benefit would be in the area of multicultural policies, an area in which Australia is already seen as a model for other countries. Specifically, the issues of acculturation, formation, hybridization, and the disappearance or persistence of ethnic identities over time are integral to developing culturally sensitive and socially advantageous policies of multiculturalism and immigration. Australia also has a significant cultural interest in the Balkans, as large numbers of its citizens perceive cultural identity from the region. For that reason, this research has significant potential to arouse wider community interest, and stimulate dialogue between different communities in Australia.Read moreRead less