Crafting Authoritarian Politics. Although Russia is nominally a democracy, strong elements of authoritarianism remain dominant. This project examines how Russia has accommodated these authoritarian themes within a representative democracy and, more generally, seeks to shed new light on the process of democratization in postcommunist societies. Russia is the 8th largest country in the world by population and the 11th largest economy based on GDP; it also remains nuclear-armed. Understanding th ....Crafting Authoritarian Politics. Although Russia is nominally a democracy, strong elements of authoritarianism remain dominant. This project examines how Russia has accommodated these authoritarian themes within a representative democracy and, more generally, seeks to shed new light on the process of democratization in postcommunist societies. Russia is the 8th largest country in the world by population and the 11th largest economy based on GDP; it also remains nuclear-armed. Understanding the dynamics of democratization in Russia has implications for political stability across a large section of the world which is currently in transition from authoritarianism to democracy.Read moreRead less
International interventions: ethical, legal and political issues. The project is the first stage of a larger study in partnership with Canadian researchers. The pilot will develop case studies showing the political, ethical and legal issues currently influencing intervention within other States for peacekeeping, peacemaking or humanitarian reasons. There is currently no internationally agreed legal, ethical or political code underlying such decisions to intervene. Humanitarian disasters are like ....International interventions: ethical, legal and political issues. The project is the first stage of a larger study in partnership with Canadian researchers. The pilot will develop case studies showing the political, ethical and legal issues currently influencing intervention within other States for peacekeeping, peacemaking or humanitarian reasons. There is currently no internationally agreed legal, ethical or political code underlying such decisions to intervene. Humanitarian disasters are likely to increase with the proliferation of new states and re-emergence of ethnic and religious intolerance. Australia's defence policy recognises that peacekeeping is a significant function for our armed forces. Australia should influence thinking on when the international community should act.Read moreRead less
The differential impact of performance-based and size-based funding of university research in Australia and Germany. The project will significantly increase knowledge about organisational and individual responses to systems of financing university research. A comparison of University research in Australia to a 'ground state' of research that has not been affected by evaluation-based funding will assist Australian policy makers to better manage the use of tax payer dollars to fund research. The ....The differential impact of performance-based and size-based funding of university research in Australia and Germany. The project will significantly increase knowledge about organisational and individual responses to systems of financing university research. A comparison of University research in Australia to a 'ground state' of research that has not been affected by evaluation-based funding will assist Australian policy makers to better manage the use of tax payer dollars to fund research. The project will identify adaptive behaviour, and will thus support the discussion about possible consequences of the upcoming new Research Quality Framework in Australia. German science policy will benefit from insights into the long-term effects of formula-based funding that cannot as yet be observed in Germany.Read moreRead less