Re-Writing the Nation: The Politics of Indonesian History since Suharto. In Indonesia's New Order era under President Suharto, history served a direct propaganda role in state ideology. As yet no replacement state ideology has been formulated by the three subsequent governments. In the absence of a clear direction for the state, Islamic, nationalist and other groups jockey for power. By examining the politics of historical debates in Indonesia since 1998, this project analyses processes by which ....Re-Writing the Nation: The Politics of Indonesian History since Suharto. In Indonesia's New Order era under President Suharto, history served a direct propaganda role in state ideology. As yet no replacement state ideology has been formulated by the three subsequent governments. In the absence of a clear direction for the state, Islamic, nationalist and other groups jockey for power. By examining the politics of historical debates in Indonesia since 1998, this project analyses processes by which political legitimacy is being reshaped by the contending groups in Indonesia. The project will advance the understanding both of the public uses of history and of the unstable nature of Indonesian political discourse.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
The origins and trajectory of secularism in modern Indonesian politics. This reseach will provide both historical perspective and contemporary analysis of the vexed problem of secularism in Indonesian politics. It will provide a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of the secularist bent in Indonesian political history and thinking, and will assist commentators, scholars and policy makers better to appreciate Indonesia's continuing struggle to create, construct and maintain a secularis ....The origins and trajectory of secularism in modern Indonesian politics. This reseach will provide both historical perspective and contemporary analysis of the vexed problem of secularism in Indonesian politics. It will provide a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of the secularist bent in Indonesian political history and thinking, and will assist commentators, scholars and policy makers better to appreciate Indonesia's continuing struggle to create, construct and maintain a secularist polity. Read moreRead less
Province, Nation, Empire: France, 1871-1940. This project will deepen understanding of structures of political, strategic and economic power by providing insight into the dynamics of regionalist, nationalist and internationalist ideologies through study of the world's second largest overseas empire. It examines the role of non-state initiatives and pressures, while also investigating the colonial origins of contemporary globalisation. It will shed light, in particular, on the post-colonial heri ....Province, Nation, Empire: France, 1871-1940. This project will deepen understanding of structures of political, strategic and economic power by providing insight into the dynamics of regionalist, nationalist and internationalist ideologies through study of the world's second largest overseas empire. It examines the role of non-state initiatives and pressures, while also investigating the colonial origins of contemporary globalisation. It will shed light, in particular, on the post-colonial heritage of actions in countries of the Asia-Pacific region that were French colonies or that remain French overseas outposts.Read moreRead less
Contesting the sea: maritime territoriality in the Indonesian archipelago since 1850. This project will contribute to a deeper understanding of the seas that Australia shares with Indonesia. It will give policymakers and the general public a historical perspective on many questions related to maritime territoriality that concern Australia such as why the sea has become an important part of Indonesia's national identity, the impact that the drawing of boundaries in the Arafura and Timor seas has ....Contesting the sea: maritime territoriality in the Indonesian archipelago since 1850. This project will contribute to a deeper understanding of the seas that Australia shares with Indonesia. It will give policymakers and the general public a historical perspective on many questions related to maritime territoriality that concern Australia such as why the sea has become an important part of Indonesia's national identity, the impact that the drawing of boundaries in the Arafura and Timor seas has had on peoples who previously moved about freely in these waters, and why the Indonesian government has had so little control over what goes on within its maritime territory. The project will shed light on the tensions between Australia and Indonesia concerning the seas they share and lay the foundation for greater cooperation.
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The Underdevelopment of Malaita Province and its Relevance to the Current Crisis in the Solomon Islands. Australia's rationale for the 2003 intervention in Solomon Islands was to stop this 'failed state' becoming a haven for crime, terrorism, and drug and gun running. Australia has committed an estimated $A40 to $A45 million per year for the rehabilitation of the Solomon Islands over the next decade. Malaitans, one of the two sides in a civil war, are the largest, most influential island group i ....The Underdevelopment of Malaita Province and its Relevance to the Current Crisis in the Solomon Islands. Australia's rationale for the 2003 intervention in Solomon Islands was to stop this 'failed state' becoming a haven for crime, terrorism, and drug and gun running. Australia has committed an estimated $A40 to $A45 million per year for the rehabilitation of the Solomon Islands over the next decade. Malaitans, one of the two sides in a civil war, are the largest, most influential island group in the nation, but have not received development infrastructure commensurate with their level of importance. Developing a more nuanced and culturally and historically grounded understanding of Malaita will aid the national reconstruction process, and serve as a template for handling similar problems in the Pacific Islands in the future.Read moreRead less
Economics, politics and culture in early post-independence Indonesia. Recent events in East Timor have highlighted the problems faced by new states after the initial honeymoon following independence is over. By examining the experience of Indonesia in the 1950s from the longer perspective of the 21st century, this project aims to better understand the significance of apparently simple but highly significant decisions made in the first years after decolonization and comparable major regime chang ....Economics, politics and culture in early post-independence Indonesia. Recent events in East Timor have highlighted the problems faced by new states after the initial honeymoon following independence is over. By examining the experience of Indonesia in the 1950s from the longer perspective of the 21st century, this project aims to better understand the significance of apparently simple but highly significant decisions made in the first years after decolonization and comparable major regime changes.Read moreRead less
The idea of Indonesia: a history. This project seeks to discover the origins of the idea of Indonesia in the mid-nineteenth century and to explore its trajectory through to the present time, with particular reference to the fate of the idea and the various manifestations it has taken since the proclamation of the Republic of Indonesia in 1945. The outcome will be a monograph which will provide essential historical context and analysis for understanding Indonesia's current travails and prospects ....The idea of Indonesia: a history. This project seeks to discover the origins of the idea of Indonesia in the mid-nineteenth century and to explore its trajectory through to the present time, with particular reference to the fate of the idea and the various manifestations it has taken since the proclamation of the Republic of Indonesia in 1945. The outcome will be a monograph which will provide essential historical context and analysis for understanding Indonesia's current travails and prospects as a unified, democratic nation state.Read moreRead less
Understanding the World: Domei Tsushin (United News Agency), the Japanese State and International Politics 1936 - 52. Domei tsushin (United News Agency) was arguably the most important source of overseas events for the Japanese public during the war time. A rigorous scholarly examination, however, has been yet to come. Using new materials, this project will first examine Domei's role and its relations with the state during the war, and assesses its over all impact in international politics. ....Understanding the World: Domei Tsushin (United News Agency), the Japanese State and International Politics 1936 - 52. Domei tsushin (United News Agency) was arguably the most important source of overseas events for the Japanese public during the war time. A rigorous scholarly examination, however, has been yet to come. Using new materials, this project will first examine Domei's role and its relations with the state during the war, and assesses its over all impact in international politics. Secondly, it will explore how its role, structure and relations with the state and the public changed (or unchanged) in the post-war peace time. I intend to produce a book manuscript at the end of the project.Read moreRead less
Being Famous in China: Celebrities, Heroes and Public Figures. This project furthers Australian understanding of our most strategically important neighbours, the People's Republic of China. The better we understand how it mobilises exemplars, and famous people for social cohesion or economic and political causes the more likely we are to be able to further Australian interests within this large market. Celebrity systems are integral to advertising campaigns, therefore the better we understand ho ....Being Famous in China: Celebrities, Heroes and Public Figures. This project furthers Australian understanding of our most strategically important neighbours, the People's Republic of China. The better we understand how it mobilises exemplars, and famous people for social cohesion or economic and political causes the more likely we are to be able to further Australian interests within this large market. Celebrity systems are integral to advertising campaigns, therefore the better we understand how celebrity is perceived the more likely we are to create effective marketing strategies for Australian exports. The project also enhances Australia's strong reputation as leaders in scholarship in Chinese Studies by producing research publications of high impact. Read moreRead less