Remaking the poor: poor people's responses to donors' market citizenship programs in Southeast Asia. Contemporary international aid attempts to help the poor participate in the market economy, with highly variable results. Often poor beneficiaries appear not to co-operate with these programs. This study investigates the factors driving the responses of poor people to donors' poverty reduction programs, to offer new models for donor interventions.
The political dynamics of Deng Xiaoping's leadership of China, 1979-1992. This project examines a crucial stage in the transformation of China from a backward socio-economic situation to a dynamic economic and political power. Deng Xiaoping was the most significant figure in this transformation, but the political dynamics of his leadership are imperfectly understood. This study will correct those misunderstandings.
Community Rule-Making in the Pacific Islands as Regulatory Innovation. Our study investigates the widespread phenomena of ‘community rule-making’ in Pacific Island countries, in which local communities engage in deliberative processes oriented towards development of new normative orders. Occurring largely outside of state-sanctioned authority, such processes may address social problems such as gender based violence, crime and poverty, and frequently occur in the context of other locally-driven ....Community Rule-Making in the Pacific Islands as Regulatory Innovation. Our study investigates the widespread phenomena of ‘community rule-making’ in Pacific Island countries, in which local communities engage in deliberative processes oriented towards development of new normative orders. Occurring largely outside of state-sanctioned authority, such processes may address social problems such as gender based violence, crime and poverty, and frequently occur in the context of other locally-driven attempts at community regeneration. Through collaborative empirical research in PNG, Solomon Islands and Samoa, our project will build an evidence base to better understand the potential and the dangers of community rule-making, and develop ‘responsive hybridisation’ as a new analytical framework to theorise about it.
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Thailand's social and political transformation, 1880-1980. This project aims to benefit policy-makers, diplomats, and business people who manage Australia's deepening relations with the Asian region by presenting a new understanding of the complex nature of rules of social behaviour in Thailand, an economically and strategically key mid-level Asian country. The project will deepen our understanding of the debilitating political crisis that has wracked that country since 2005, at a time of growin ....Thailand's social and political transformation, 1880-1980. This project aims to benefit policy-makers, diplomats, and business people who manage Australia's deepening relations with the Asian region by presenting a new understanding of the complex nature of rules of social behaviour in Thailand, an economically and strategically key mid-level Asian country. The project will deepen our understanding of the debilitating political crisis that has wracked that country since 2005, at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty in the East Asian region. The project will examine the vast literature on the bodily practices, modes of speech, and mental discipline known as Thai manners. These practices, produced over the last century, have never been systematically studied by Western or Thai scholars.Read moreRead less
China's Economic Statecraft: Turning Wealth into Power. Chinese leaders increasingly deploy economic resources such as foreign aid and overseas investments to influence policy decisions in other countries. To implement economic statecraft, China's leaders rely upon their state-owned companies, bureaucratic agencies, and local officials, even though they are often unreliable representatives of the central government. Applying an innovative economic theory, this project examines how central leader ....China's Economic Statecraft: Turning Wealth into Power. Chinese leaders increasingly deploy economic resources such as foreign aid and overseas investments to influence policy decisions in other countries. To implement economic statecraft, China's leaders rely upon their state-owned companies, bureaucratic agencies, and local officials, even though they are often unreliable representatives of the central government. Applying an innovative economic theory, this project examines how central leaders' delegation of authority shapes the effectiveness of China's economic statecraft across mainland Asia. The results aim to specify the conditions under which China is able to translate wealth into power—to utilize economic resources to exert political influence abroad.Read moreRead less
Domestic Politics, States & the Guiding Principles: Insights from Indonesia. States have moved slowly and inconsistently to adopt and implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We know little about why, or how to ensure states do more. This project aims to shed light on these issues by examining how domestic politics has shaped the state’s response to the Guiding Principles in Indonesia. Expected outcomes include an analysis of the Indonesian case, a conceptual ....Domestic Politics, States & the Guiding Principles: Insights from Indonesia. States have moved slowly and inconsistently to adopt and implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We know little about why, or how to ensure states do more. This project aims to shed light on these issues by examining how domestic politics has shaped the state’s response to the Guiding Principles in Indonesia. Expected outcomes include an analysis of the Indonesian case, a conceptual framework for explaining state responses to the Guiding Principles, policy-related advice for promoting the Guiding Principles, and enhanced understanding of solutions to global governance gaps. Benefits include these outcomes plus enhanced capacity in Australia and elsewhere to address corporate abuses of human rights.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100371
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$331,248.00
Summary
The Rise of sophisticated authoritarianism in Southeast Asia. This project aims to investigate the persistence of authoritarian rule in Southeast Asia. Against the backdrop of a global democratic recession, the project seeks to identify how dictators and dominant parties have learnt to maintain power using increasingly sophisticated techniques. Using five original case studies and three qualitative methods, the expected outcome is an explanation for the survival of authoritarian regimes that is ....The Rise of sophisticated authoritarianism in Southeast Asia. This project aims to investigate the persistence of authoritarian rule in Southeast Asia. Against the backdrop of a global democratic recession, the project seeks to identify how dictators and dominant parties have learnt to maintain power using increasingly sophisticated techniques. Using five original case studies and three qualitative methods, the expected outcome is an explanation for the survival of authoritarian regimes that is accessible and informative to the academic, policymaking and democracy promotion communities. The knowledge gained from this project can be used to safeguard Australia’s interest in the preservation and growth of democracy abroad. The benefits will be risk reduction in terms of decision making and improved national security.Read moreRead less
Doing state-building better? Practising ‘hybridity’ in Melanesia. Australia is engaged in programs that draw upon local socio-political practices and institutions to assist its efforts to stabilise and build states in Melanesia, referred to as a ‘hybridity’ approach. Australia has successfully restored stability in its immediate region, Melanesia, but its attempts to build stable liberal democracies have had modest results. This project will advance policy understandings to improve the efficacy ....Doing state-building better? Practising ‘hybridity’ in Melanesia. Australia is engaged in programs that draw upon local socio-political practices and institutions to assist its efforts to stabilise and build states in Melanesia, referred to as a ‘hybridity’ approach. Australia has successfully restored stability in its immediate region, Melanesia, but its attempts to build stable liberal democracies have had modest results. This project will advance policy understandings to improve the efficacy of Australia’s state-building efforts and promote social cohesion and stability in our neighbourhood. This will potentially encourage local self-reliance in Melanesia, reducing dependence on Australia’s development assistance.Read moreRead less