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
Trans/national activism: Organizing for Domestic Worker Rights in Southeast Asia. This project will contribute to the identified national priority, Safeguarding Australia, by providing a better understanding of the issues surrounding labour migration, including the capacity of NGOs and state governments to address the needs and rights of labour migrants in Southeast Asia. By expanding our understanding of the possibilities for democratisation within the region and contributing to theoretical dev ....Trans/national activism: Organizing for Domestic Worker Rights in Southeast Asia. This project will contribute to the identified national priority, Safeguarding Australia, by providing a better understanding of the issues surrounding labour migration, including the capacity of NGOs and state governments to address the needs and rights of labour migrants in Southeast Asia. By expanding our understanding of the possibilities for democratisation within the region and contributing to theoretical developments on the relationship between state and civil society, this research will also contribute to the national interest in influencing institutional reform and democratic transition in Asia. Read moreRead less
China's invisible economic leadership: women in family enterprises. Chinese women are generally regarded as not having been in the leadership of economic reform. In contrast, the Chief Investigator's recent research on the new rich in North China suggests that the wives of new entrepreneurs may play significant, though unacknowledged, leadership roles in enterprise development. In particular, it suggests that women often act as business managers and accountants alongside their husbands, especial ....China's invisible economic leadership: women in family enterprises. Chinese women are generally regarded as not having been in the leadership of economic reform. In contrast, the Chief Investigator's recent research on the new rich in North China suggests that the wives of new entrepreneurs may play significant, though unacknowledged, leadership roles in enterprise development. In particular, it suggests that women often act as business managers and accountants alongside their husbands, especially in family based enterprises first established in the private sector. It is now proposed to test the wider applicability of these findings, and explore the consequences for the development of enterprises, families and local politics.Read moreRead less
Democrats within the Chinese Communist Party and China's Democratic Future: The Case of Li Shenzhi. A major nuclear power with ambitions for regional predominance, China is home to one fifth of the world's population, the world's fastest-growing economy since the 1980s, one of the few surviving communist regimes, and Australia's third-largest trading partner. Whether China will democratise is central to international peace and stability and to any assessment of the future of world politics and i ....Democrats within the Chinese Communist Party and China's Democratic Future: The Case of Li Shenzhi. A major nuclear power with ambitions for regional predominance, China is home to one fifth of the world's population, the world's fastest-growing economy since the 1980s, one of the few surviving communist regimes, and Australia's third-largest trading partner. Whether China will democratise is central to international peace and stability and to any assessment of the future of world politics and international order. The project will make conceptual and empirical advances in the study of intellectual life and political trends in China and help Australian government and public bodies achieve a greater understanding of the political process in that country.Read moreRead less
Party-state, Liberalism and Social Democracy: the debate on China's future. The Chinese communist party-state is in transition. The possibilities range from liberal democracy, through social democracy to new forms of authoritarianism. One key to the future of China lies in the reflections of intellectuals and members of the ruling elite on this transition. This project examines the current debates in China on its destiny, in particular that between ?liberals? and the ?new left?. In addition to h ....Party-state, Liberalism and Social Democracy: the debate on China's future. The Chinese communist party-state is in transition. The possibilities range from liberal democracy, through social democracy to new forms of authoritarianism. One key to the future of China lies in the reflections of intellectuals and members of the ruling elite on this transition. This project examines the current debates in China on its destiny, in particular that between ?liberals? and the ?new left?. In addition to highlighting the process and possible future of intellectual and political development in China, the project also contributes to the wider discussion of change in transitional post-communist societies more generally.Read moreRead less
Regulating Morals in Modern Japan. The project will examine the contestation over modernity in early twentieth century Japan as revealed in heightened attempts to regulate public morals. Focus on regulation of morals shifts the traditional emphasis on foreign, military developments to domestic social change to explain the repressive, expansionist state of the 1930s. Investigation of the everyday makes concrete the meaning and experience of modernity in interwar Japan. Examining the role of middl ....Regulating Morals in Modern Japan. The project will examine the contestation over modernity in early twentieth century Japan as revealed in heightened attempts to regulate public morals. Focus on regulation of morals shifts the traditional emphasis on foreign, military developments to domestic social change to explain the repressive, expansionist state of the 1930s. Investigation of the everyday makes concrete the meaning and experience of modernity in interwar Japan. Examining the role of middle class activists adds a dimension to the debates over the consequences of modernization.Read moreRead less
Migration, Ethnicity and Workforce Segmentation in the Asia-Pacific. Globalisation has produced new polarised patterns in working populations, including ethnically segmented labour. The related dynamics of work, ethnicity and labour segmentation have very significant long-term consequences. Systematic studies are available for advanced economies, but are far less developed for newly industrialised countries. This program investigates these changes in major Asia-Pacific urban-industrial centres. ....Migration, Ethnicity and Workforce Segmentation in the Asia-Pacific. Globalisation has produced new polarised patterns in working populations, including ethnically segmented labour. The related dynamics of work, ethnicity and labour segmentation have very significant long-term consequences. Systematic studies are available for advanced economies, but are far less developed for newly industrialised countries. This program investigates these changes in major Asia-Pacific urban-industrial centres. Innovative analyses from large-scale datasets and from strategic localised case studies will meet this shortfall in knowledge. They will also connect with more extensive ongoing studies of social transformations. Research outcomes and theoretical re-assessments will be presented in two workshops, and published in refereed journals and a book.Read moreRead less
The Changing Nature of China's Enterprise Culture. China is one of Australia's most important trading partners. Understanding the transformation now underway in the enterprise culture of China's industrial system is essential in safeguarding Australia's future economic interests. Through in-depth research inside a representative sample of Chinese enterprises with different forms of ownership, this project will provide much needed insights. The findings will be of interest to Australia's academic ....The Changing Nature of China's Enterprise Culture. China is one of Australia's most important trading partners. Understanding the transformation now underway in the enterprise culture of China's industrial system is essential in safeguarding Australia's future economic interests. Through in-depth research inside a representative sample of Chinese enterprises with different forms of ownership, this project will provide much needed insights. The findings will be of interest to Australia's academic community, our government, NGOs and trade unions.Read moreRead less
In the shadow of Singapore: The limits of transnationalism in Insular Riau. This project will contribute to the process of safeguarding Australia, through a better understanding of our nearest neighbours. An enhanced understanding of nationalism and regionalism in Southeast Asia is central to the maintenance of effective bilateral and multilateral relations between Australia and its near neighbours. Cross-border tension between our ASEAN neighbours is potentially a problem for Australia, and thu ....In the shadow of Singapore: The limits of transnationalism in Insular Riau. This project will contribute to the process of safeguarding Australia, through a better understanding of our nearest neighbours. An enhanced understanding of nationalism and regionalism in Southeast Asia is central to the maintenance of effective bilateral and multilateral relations between Australia and its near neighbours. Cross-border tension between our ASEAN neighbours is potentially a problem for Australia, and thus of political and economic concern to all Australians.Read moreRead less
Social Support Provided in China to Older People with Disabilities. The project contributes to understanding our region through the opportunity to demonstrate Australia's engagement with China, with which it is establishing strong links in social, economic and cultural interests. It contributes to national understanding of East Asian policies for older people with a disability, including partnership approaches to social support between government, non-government and communities. The project stre ....Social Support Provided in China to Older People with Disabilities. The project contributes to understanding our region through the opportunity to demonstrate Australia's engagement with China, with which it is establishing strong links in social, economic and cultural interests. It contributes to national understanding of East Asian policies for older people with a disability, including partnership approaches to social support between government, non-government and communities. The project strengthens connections between Australian researchers and policy officials, the China Research Centre on Ageing, and Chinese government organisations.Read moreRead less