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
In the shadow of Singapore: The limits of transnationalism in Insular Riau. This project will contribute to the process of safeguarding Australia, through a better understanding of our nearest neighbours. An enhanced understanding of nationalism and regionalism in Southeast Asia is central to the maintenance of effective bilateral and multilateral relations between Australia and its near neighbours. Cross-border tension between our ASEAN neighbours is potentially a problem for Australia, and thu ....In the shadow of Singapore: The limits of transnationalism in Insular Riau. This project will contribute to the process of safeguarding Australia, through a better understanding of our nearest neighbours. An enhanced understanding of nationalism and regionalism in Southeast Asia is central to the maintenance of effective bilateral and multilateral relations between Australia and its near neighbours. Cross-border tension between our ASEAN neighbours is potentially a problem for Australia, and thus of political and economic concern to all Australians.Read moreRead less
Suicide Terrorism: The Use of Life as a Weapon. Bali attacks were a powerful reminder that Australians are not immune from terrorism. Suicide terrorism is the most lethal form of terrorism. It constitutes 3 % of all terrorist attacks but accounts for 48 % of all deaths. Australia's involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor has made Australia a more likely terrorist target. An informed understanding of suicide terrorism in our region would assist in developing appropriate policies for prote ....Suicide Terrorism: The Use of Life as a Weapon. Bali attacks were a powerful reminder that Australians are not immune from terrorism. Suicide terrorism is the most lethal form of terrorism. It constitutes 3 % of all terrorist attacks but accounts for 48 % of all deaths. Australia's involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor has made Australia a more likely terrorist target. An informed understanding of suicide terrorism in our region would assist in developing appropriate policies for protecting Australia from terrorism. The research will also contribute to evaluation of costs and benefits of Australian government policies of democratisation in the region and War on Terror.Read moreRead less
Land, Community and Governance in Rural China. Although China is becoming Australia's largest trading partner, we know too little about the control of land in rural China and the implications for the agricultural economy. Geo-politically, the stability of China is crucial to the region, and many commentators see rural unrest as the greatest threat to the regime. Since disputes over the use and ownership of land are the main source of this instability, providing much-needed information about Chin ....Land, Community and Governance in Rural China. Although China is becoming Australia's largest trading partner, we know too little about the control of land in rural China and the implications for the agricultural economy. Geo-politically, the stability of China is crucial to the region, and many commentators see rural unrest as the greatest threat to the regime. Since disputes over the use and ownership of land are the main source of this instability, providing much-needed information about China's agricultural economy and the potential for political unrest in rural China is directly in Australia's interest.Read moreRead less
Migration, Ethnicity and Workforce Segmentation in the Asia-Pacific. Globalisation has produced new polarised patterns in working populations, including ethnically segmented labour. The related dynamics of work, ethnicity and labour segmentation have very significant long-term consequences. Systematic studies are available for advanced economies, but are far less developed for newly industrialised countries. This program investigates these changes in major Asia-Pacific urban-industrial centres. ....Migration, Ethnicity and Workforce Segmentation in the Asia-Pacific. Globalisation has produced new polarised patterns in working populations, including ethnically segmented labour. The related dynamics of work, ethnicity and labour segmentation have very significant long-term consequences. Systematic studies are available for advanced economies, but are far less developed for newly industrialised countries. This program investigates these changes in major Asia-Pacific urban-industrial centres. Innovative analyses from large-scale datasets and from strategic localised case studies will meet this shortfall in knowledge. They will also connect with more extensive ongoing studies of social transformations. Research outcomes and theoretical re-assessments will be presented in two workshops, and published in refereed journals and a book.Read moreRead less
Youth civic participation and social connection in post-industrial society: a comparative analysis. The project generates important new knowledge about youth civic participation and will develop more effective indicators for contemporary meanings of citizenship and connection that are relevant to young people today. It will make a direct contribution to youth, education and welfare policies on issues of youth participation and connection, helping to shape a timely and responsive approach on the ....Youth civic participation and social connection in post-industrial society: a comparative analysis. The project generates important new knowledge about youth civic participation and will develop more effective indicators for contemporary meanings of citizenship and connection that are relevant to young people today. It will make a direct contribution to youth, education and welfare policies on issues of youth participation and connection, helping to shape a timely and responsive approach on the part of policy makers, service providers and programme designers. The project will also contribute significantly to the development of ongoing international collaborations between researchers in Australia and Europe, and to the research training of the next generation.Read moreRead less
Democrats within the Chinese Communist Party and China's Democratic Future: The Case of Li Shenzhi. A major nuclear power with ambitions for regional predominance, China is home to one fifth of the world's population, the world's fastest-growing economy since the 1980s, one of the few surviving communist regimes, and Australia's third-largest trading partner. Whether China will democratise is central to international peace and stability and to any assessment of the future of world politics and i ....Democrats within the Chinese Communist Party and China's Democratic Future: The Case of Li Shenzhi. A major nuclear power with ambitions for regional predominance, China is home to one fifth of the world's population, the world's fastest-growing economy since the 1980s, one of the few surviving communist regimes, and Australia's third-largest trading partner. Whether China will democratise is central to international peace and stability and to any assessment of the future of world politics and international order. The project will make conceptual and empirical advances in the study of intellectual life and political trends in China and help Australian government and public bodies achieve a greater understanding of the political process in that country.Read moreRead less
Capacity-building in Indonesian Islamic NGOs. This study aims to understand and monitor forms and applications of capacity-building in progressive Islamic/Muslim NGOs in Indonesia, over a four year period, in the context of profound social, economic and political change, in order to better understand how best to strengthen such groups and to assist them to become more effective. It will significantly increase our understanding of the complex cultural issues that influence these groups in their ....Capacity-building in Indonesian Islamic NGOs. This study aims to understand and monitor forms and applications of capacity-building in progressive Islamic/Muslim NGOs in Indonesia, over a four year period, in the context of profound social, economic and political change, in order to better understand how best to strengthen such groups and to assist them to become more effective. It will significantly increase our understanding of the complex cultural issues that influence these groups in their efforts to professionalise, build capacity and contribute to civil society. It will identify areas in which Western misunderstandings of Muslim culture and society have limited the effectiveness of capacity building programs.Read moreRead less
Party-state, Liberalism and Social Democracy: the debate on China's future. The Chinese communist party-state is in transition. The possibilities range from liberal democracy, through social democracy to new forms of authoritarianism. One key to the future of China lies in the reflections of intellectuals and members of the ruling elite on this transition. This project examines the current debates in China on its destiny, in particular that between ?liberals? and the ?new left?. In addition to h ....Party-state, Liberalism and Social Democracy: the debate on China's future. The Chinese communist party-state is in transition. The possibilities range from liberal democracy, through social democracy to new forms of authoritarianism. One key to the future of China lies in the reflections of intellectuals and members of the ruling elite on this transition. This project examines the current debates in China on its destiny, in particular that between ?liberals? and the ?new left?. In addition to highlighting the process and possible future of intellectual and political development in China, the project also contributes to the wider discussion of change in transitional post-communist societies more generally.Read moreRead less
Sustainable Development, Cultural Diversity, and Global Transformations: An Ethnography of Agricultural and Environmental Practices in East Timor. Civil unrest, low productivity, and environmental degradation in East Timor, the Solomon Islands, PNG, Nauru, and Indonesia, highlight the new challenges for international development policy. By providing culturally specific analyses of development processes and by advancing new policy directions, the study will enhance the capacities of Australian NG ....Sustainable Development, Cultural Diversity, and Global Transformations: An Ethnography of Agricultural and Environmental Practices in East Timor. Civil unrest, low productivity, and environmental degradation in East Timor, the Solomon Islands, PNG, Nauru, and Indonesia, highlight the new challenges for international development policy. By providing culturally specific analyses of development processes and by advancing new policy directions, the study will enhance the capacities of Australian NGOs, as well as international NGOs with Australian offices, government agencies and Indigenous communities, effectively to tackle acute poverty and environmental degradation in our region. These issues are increasingly pertinent to Australia.Read moreRead less