From Periphery to Central: the Politics of China's Central Banking Reform and the Building of a Financial Infrastructure in an Age of Transition. China's rapid economic growth and gradual integration with the international system, in particular the increasingly strong economic links between Australia and China, means Australia now has a big stake in China's financial and economic stability. By explaining the dynamics of China's central banking reform, monetary policy and banking reform since 197 ....From Periphery to Central: the Politics of China's Central Banking Reform and the Building of a Financial Infrastructure in an Age of Transition. China's rapid economic growth and gradual integration with the international system, in particular the increasingly strong economic links between Australia and China, means Australia now has a big stake in China's financial and economic stability. By explaining the dynamics of China's central banking reform, monetary policy and banking reform since 1979, this project will significantly enhance our capacity to interpret monetary policy management and financial development in China, to support our commitment to states in the Asia Pacific region that are dealing with economic reforms and transition, and more importantly, to exert influence on the desired direction of change in China through engagement with the Chinese monetary authority.Read moreRead less
Healing the Achilles Heel: the Politics of China's Banking Reform since 1997. China's rapid economic growth and gradual integration with the international system, in particular the increasingly strong economic links between Australia and China, means Australia now has a big stake in China's financial and economic stability, especially under the current global financial crisis. By examining the path and process of China's banking and regulatory reform, this project will significantly enhance our ....Healing the Achilles Heel: the Politics of China's Banking Reform since 1997. China's rapid economic growth and gradual integration with the international system, in particular the increasingly strong economic links between Australia and China, means Australia now has a big stake in China's financial and economic stability, especially under the current global financial crisis. By examining the path and process of China's banking and regulatory reform, this project will significantly enhance our capacity to interpret macroeconomic and financial development in China, to support our commitment to states in the Asia Pacific region that are dealing with economic reforms and transition, and more importantly, to exert influence on the desired direction of change in China through engagement with the Chinese polity.Read moreRead less
Improving effectiveness of Australian aid to the island-Pacific. Improving the effectiveness of aid to the island Pacific so as to secure peace and prosperity within our immediate neighbourhood is in Australia's own national interest. This research investigates issues of state functioning and state failure with a view to improving the effectiveness of external interventions and of bolstering state capacity in the South Pacific. It is now widely acknowledged that ?failed states? can generate ref ....Improving effectiveness of Australian aid to the island-Pacific. Improving the effectiveness of aid to the island Pacific so as to secure peace and prosperity within our immediate neighbourhood is in Australia's own national interest. This research investigates issues of state functioning and state failure with a view to improving the effectiveness of external interventions and of bolstering state capacity in the South Pacific. It is now widely acknowledged that ?failed states? can generate refugee flows and create havens for organised crime or terrorist groups, thus becoming a threat to neighbouring states. Such cross-border spillovers have major implications for Australia's national security and have been the primary rationale for the recent interventions into Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.Read moreRead less
Democratization and conflict management in Eastern Indonesia. The proposed project directly addresses the priority goal of understanding our region and the world to safeguard Australia. Indonesia is not only Australia's closest northern neighbour and the world's most populous Muslim nation, but also the third-largest democracy and the strategically most important country in Southeast Asia. The project will greatly enhance our understanding of some of the least known areas of Indonesia and is int ....Democratization and conflict management in Eastern Indonesia. The proposed project directly addresses the priority goal of understanding our region and the world to safeguard Australia. Indonesia is not only Australia's closest northern neighbour and the world's most populous Muslim nation, but also the third-largest democracy and the strategically most important country in Southeast Asia. The project will greatly enhance our understanding of some of the least known areas of Indonesia and is intended to prescribe concrete recommendations for the Australian government and aid organizations to assist them in their endeavours to promote democratization and help prevent and/or resolve communal conflict.Read moreRead less
Representation and Political Regimes in Southeast Asia. Comprehending drivers and directions of political regimes in Southeast Asia is urgently needed as the global financial crisis and climate change pose new challenges for Australia's regional engagement. Aid strategies to support and promote preferred political and other governance institutions will be enhanced by knowledge of the conflicts and alliances over political representation. Specific coalitions functional for democratic institutions ....Representation and Political Regimes in Southeast Asia. Comprehending drivers and directions of political regimes in Southeast Asia is urgently needed as the global financial crisis and climate change pose new challenges for Australia's regional engagement. Aid strategies to support and promote preferred political and other governance institutions will be enhanced by knowledge of the conflicts and alliances over political representation. Specific coalitions functional for democratic institutions in particular would become clearer. Business interests in trade and investment will benefit from understanding the nature and extent of conflicts over representation and their potential or otherwise to result in trade protectionism and affect political stability.Read moreRead less
Democratization, Institutional Reform and Ethnic Politics in the Asia-Pacific. The democratisation of the Asia-Pacific has significant implications for Australia. Consolidated democracies are better able to manage internal conflicts, and less likely to pose a threat to their neighbours via arms trafficking, refugee flows, and transnational terrorism. However, the initial transitional period of democratisation can be highly fraught, and many of the new democracies of the Asia-Pacific are fragile, ....Democratization, Institutional Reform and Ethnic Politics in the Asia-Pacific. The democratisation of the Asia-Pacific has significant implications for Australia. Consolidated democracies are better able to manage internal conflicts, and less likely to pose a threat to their neighbours via arms trafficking, refugee flows, and transnational terrorism. However, the initial transitional period of democratisation can be highly fraught, and many of the new democracies of the Asia-Pacific are fragile, beset by internal cleavages and conflicts. If ways can be found to manage ethnic and other cleavages within a democratic framework, the prospects for peaceful and stable governance in the region will be significantly enhanced. This has the potential to transform the security of the region and Australia's relations with it.Read moreRead less
The Politics of Accountability Reform in Southeast Asia. Australian foreign policymakers and businesses operating in Southeast Asia derive security and commercial advantages from understanding the direction and drivers of politics in the region. New accountability reforms are integral to this politics and, consequently, Australian aid money is being directed towards support for such institutions. However, depending on their nature and support bases, accountability reforms can enhance or suppress ....The Politics of Accountability Reform in Southeast Asia. Australian foreign policymakers and businesses operating in Southeast Asia derive security and commercial advantages from understanding the direction and drivers of politics in the region. New accountability reforms are integral to this politics and, consequently, Australian aid money is being directed towards support for such institutions. However, depending on their nature and support bases, accountability reforms can enhance or suppress citizens' and investors' powers in relation to public and private authorities. Analysing accountability institutions in this way can thus help refine aid strategies and foreign policy meant to increase scrutiny of how authorities in political and economic governance exercise power. Read moreRead less
The Peace Process in Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesia is critical to Australia's security, economic and strategic interests. This study of the Aceh peace process will aid our understanding of how Indonesia is grappling with two issues crucial for its long-term stability: i) management of ethnic and separatist conflicts, and ii) proliferation of local corruption. The study will interest Australian policy-makers, businesspeople and others concerned with Indonesia. It will be valuable to the overseas dev ....The Peace Process in Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesia is critical to Australia's security, economic and strategic interests. This study of the Aceh peace process will aid our understanding of how Indonesia is grappling with two issues crucial for its long-term stability: i) management of ethnic and separatist conflicts, and ii) proliferation of local corruption. The study will interest Australian policy-makers, businesspeople and others concerned with Indonesia. It will be valuable to the overseas development community, especially the many agencies involved in post-tsunami reconstruction assistance in Aceh. Finally, the project will enhance Australia's reputation as a source of high quality research on Indonesia and on armed conflicts and peace processes in the Asia-Pacific.Read moreRead less
Politics of land in Vietnam, late 1950s-1990s. The project is three-fold: (1) complete an in-depth analysis of the politics of land in Vietnam during the second half of the 20th century, (2) through this analysis contribute to a broader understanding of Vietnam's political system, and (3) show the implications of this Vietnam case for comprehending how unorganized, everyday kinds of activity in an authoritarian political system can contribute to significant shifts in national policies. Expected ....Politics of land in Vietnam, late 1950s-1990s. The project is three-fold: (1) complete an in-depth analysis of the politics of land in Vietnam during the second half of the 20th century, (2) through this analysis contribute to a broader understanding of Vietnam's political system, and (3) show the implications of this Vietnam case for comprehending how unorganized, everyday kinds of activity in an authoritarian political system can contribute to significant shifts in national policies. Expected outcomes include a book on agricultural collectivization and decollectivization in Vietnam, a PhD dissertation on land reform in the southern half of the country, and journal articles.Read moreRead less
Democratising Taiwan. On 18 March 2000, over 12.6 million Taiwanese voters cast their ballots and elected two former political prisoners, candidates of the opposition political party, as president and vice-president. This peaceful transfer of power from government to opposition marked a key stage in a thirty year history of liberalisation and transition to democracy. How did Taiwan's political system change from being one of Asia's most authoritarian regimes to one of its most democratic? This p ....Democratising Taiwan. On 18 March 2000, over 12.6 million Taiwanese voters cast their ballots and elected two former political prisoners, candidates of the opposition political party, as president and vice-president. This peaceful transfer of power from government to opposition marked a key stage in a thirty year history of liberalisation and transition to democracy. How did Taiwan's political system change from being one of Asia's most authoritarian regimes to one of its most democratic? This project seeks to explore and answer the many aspects raised by this question. The answers have relevance to Australia's peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.Read moreRead less