Love narratives in contemporary German literature since 1990. This study of love in contemporary German literature will lead to deeper insights into intimacy in one of our major European trading partners, as it undergoes a period of economic uncertainty and social change. It will enhance our understanding of the varied ways in which individuals, as well as national literatures in the western tradition, respond to the challenges of globalization. Through examining the semantics of modern love and ....Love narratives in contemporary German literature since 1990. This study of love in contemporary German literature will lead to deeper insights into intimacy in one of our major European trading partners, as it undergoes a period of economic uncertainty and social change. It will enhance our understanding of the varied ways in which individuals, as well as national literatures in the western tradition, respond to the challenges of globalization. Through examining the semantics of modern love and what love means to different sections of society (friendship, passion, marriage, sex etc.) in a contemporary European culture that bears many similarities to our own, this project will bring benefits to Australians' understanding of how the meaning of love evolves over time. Read moreRead less
Systemic Corruption and Regime Change: State, Business and Political Elites in Indonesia and Implications for Governance Reform. The development of a stable, prosperous and democratic Indonesia is fundamental to Australia's long-term security. Systemic corruption has been identified as a fundamental impediment to such development and the Australian Government through AUSAID funds institutional reform programs. Yet formal law remains ineffective and corruption has continued to flourish, pointing ....Systemic Corruption and Regime Change: State, Business and Political Elites in Indonesia and Implications for Governance Reform. The development of a stable, prosperous and democratic Indonesia is fundamental to Australia's long-term security. Systemic corruption has been identified as a fundamental impediment to such development and the Australian Government through AUSAID funds institutional reform programs. Yet formal law remains ineffective and corruption has continued to flourish, pointing to weaknesses of policy design. This project will explain how competing political elites systematically use the leverage of the state to redistribute resources within business and society and seek to identify the formal and informal rules that underpin such behaviour. Outcomes will be better models and more effective governance reforms.Read moreRead less
Managing Modernity : Capitalism, Globalisation and Governance in Melanesia. Australia's relations with its closest neighbours in the Pacific have been significantly reassessed as a consequence of the 'war on terror'. The goals of community development and national participation in global projects in Melanesian nation states have become linked to the issue of national security in the region. By revealing the significant impediments to and positive vectors for stability in Melanesian states, this ....Managing Modernity : Capitalism, Globalisation and Governance in Melanesia. Australia's relations with its closest neighbours in the Pacific have been significantly reassessed as a consequence of the 'war on terror'. The goals of community development and national participation in global projects in Melanesian nation states have become linked to the issue of national security in the region. By revealing the significant impediments to and positive vectors for stability in Melanesian states, this research will provide better understandings of a region that is increasingly depicted as subject to corruption, violence and the failure of democracy. Read moreRead less
A difficult marriage: gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. This project focuses on the interrelationships between gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. Through an exploration of how the political ?marriage? between East and West Germany, with its conventionalised gender roles, is mapped onto literary marriages, the project examines the challenges and opportunities that unification has afforded men and women. It will y ....A difficult marriage: gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. This project focuses on the interrelationships between gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. Through an exploration of how the political ?marriage? between East and West Germany, with its conventionalised gender roles, is mapped onto literary marriages, the project examines the challenges and opportunities that unification has afforded men and women. It will yield insights into the ways in which unification has rewritten the scripts for femininity and masculinity and forced a transformation of intimacy. Its findings will enhance knowledge of gender relations in post-communist Europe and the relationships between gender, the nation and modernity.Read moreRead less
The World Trade Organization and Human Rights. The expansion of a liberalised trade regime has special importance for a trade-dependent small economy such as that of Australia. Yet this process within the WTO, particularly after the Cancun Ministerial meeting, has stalled. This inertia has in part been caused by tensions arising from the WTO/human rights debate. There is therefore an urgent need for cutting edge, thorough, balanced research on that topic. Furthermore, the investigation of th ....The World Trade Organization and Human Rights. The expansion of a liberalised trade regime has special importance for a trade-dependent small economy such as that of Australia. Yet this process within the WTO, particularly after the Cancun Ministerial meeting, has stalled. This inertia has in part been caused by tensions arising from the WTO/human rights debate. There is therefore an urgent need for cutting edge, thorough, balanced research on that topic. Furthermore, the investigation of the attitudes of Australia's neighbours to the human rights/trade debate will aid friendly relations and contribute to the promotion of global security, which is enhanced by the promotion of a just global economic system. Australia also benefits by being a world leader in this crucial debate. Read moreRead less
Internal and External Sources of Political Instability in East Timor. This project is of direct relevance to Australia through its bilateral and multilateral provision of police to assist in the maintenance of East Timor's law and order, through its training of and support for the East Timor Border Patrol Unit, and its training and support of the East Timor defence force, Falintil-FDTL. The project also goes to the core of Australia's concerns with regional state maintenance (or conversely, pote ....Internal and External Sources of Political Instability in East Timor. This project is of direct relevance to Australia through its bilateral and multilateral provision of police to assist in the maintenance of East Timor's law and order, through its training of and support for the East Timor Border Patrol Unit, and its training and support of the East Timor defence force, Falintil-FDTL. The project also goes to the core of Australia's concerns with regional state maintenance (or conversely, potential state failure), direct bilateral relations with both East Timor and Indonesia, and the triangular relationship between these three states. Read moreRead less
Under New Leadership: A study of the composition, behaviour and interactions of cultural, religious and political elites in democratic Indonesia. Good communication, mutual understanding and sound working relationships between Indonesian and Australian elites are vital for maintaining fruitful diplomatic relations. Such relations, however, are often impeded by cultural differences and a lack of understanding of informal political processes in Indonesia, all the more so in the current context of ....Under New Leadership: A study of the composition, behaviour and interactions of cultural, religious and political elites in democratic Indonesia. Good communication, mutual understanding and sound working relationships between Indonesian and Australian elites are vital for maintaining fruitful diplomatic relations. Such relations, however, are often impeded by cultural differences and a lack of understanding of informal political processes in Indonesia, all the more so in the current context of tensions between Muslim and Western nations. This study explores religious and other cultural factors that shape aspects of behaviour of Indonesian leaders that puzzle their Australian counterparts. It will shed light on the visions that direct Indonesia's most influential people in their thinking about the future of their nation and its relations with Australia.Read moreRead less
Pacific futures and second generation transnationalism: a Tongan case study. As Australia considers its role in the Pacific it is imperative to understand the changing transnational ties of Pacific Islanders. A decline in ties such as remittances will have far-reaching implications for vulnerable Island economies and societies, and this study of 'second generation? Tongans will assess the extent to which transnational ties are likely to persist. Australia is Tonga's primary provider of developme ....Pacific futures and second generation transnationalism: a Tongan case study. As Australia considers its role in the Pacific it is imperative to understand the changing transnational ties of Pacific Islanders. A decline in ties such as remittances will have far-reaching implications for vulnerable Island economies and societies, and this study of 'second generation? Tongans will assess the extent to which transnational ties are likely to persist. Australia is Tonga's primary provider of development cooperation, and a decline in these ties will impact on this relationship. The project will contribute to planning for Australia's future relationship with Tonga and the Pacific region in areas such as aid, migration and security. Read moreRead less
Legal Origins: The Impact of Different Legal Systems on the Regulation of the Business Enterprise in the Asia-Pacific Region. This project will locate Australia and several major countries in our region within a highly influential international scholarly debate about appropriate forms of business regulation. It will contribute to domestic policy-making debates about the most effective legal methods for promoting an innovative and productive economy, especially in the areas of corporate and labou ....Legal Origins: The Impact of Different Legal Systems on the Regulation of the Business Enterprise in the Asia-Pacific Region. This project will locate Australia and several major countries in our region within a highly influential international scholarly debate about appropriate forms of business regulation. It will contribute to domestic policy-making debates about the most effective legal methods for promoting an innovative and productive economy, especially in the areas of corporate and labour law. It will also enable Australian policy makers to participate in international policy reform debates facilitated through international institutions. In particular, it will enhance Australia's capacity to understand and contribute to the establishment of better legal systems in our region, enhancing important trading and strategic relationships.Read moreRead less
After the crisis: Nation-building challenges in East Timor. Given the substantial commitment of International Stabilisation Force intervention, nation and state building in East Timor remains a high priority for Australian policy makers. This project will examine three key nation-building agendas in post-crisis East Timor, focusing on the key areas of decentralisation of state authority, evolving relationships with traditional authorities, and post-crisis conflict resolution programs, over the p ....After the crisis: Nation-building challenges in East Timor. Given the substantial commitment of International Stabilisation Force intervention, nation and state building in East Timor remains a high priority for Australian policy makers. This project will examine three key nation-building agendas in post-crisis East Timor, focusing on the key areas of decentralisation of state authority, evolving relationships with traditional authorities, and post-crisis conflict resolution programs, over the period of 2009-11. In so doing, the project will contribute to a better understanding of antecedent factors to state failure, linking directly with recent Australian government policy concerns over 'fragile states', and their potential to destabilise the regional security environment.Read moreRead less