Reconciling biological and social Indigeneity in the genomic era. Advances in genomics are expected to have profound impacts on contemporary identities, including Indigeneity. A focus on social processes since the 1970s has left scholarship on Indigenous identity ill-equipped to grapple with the consequences of the genomic era. Drawing on multidisciplinary expertise, Indigenous and non-Indigenous investigators intend to examine biological and social influences on Indigeneity in narratives of sel ....Reconciling biological and social Indigeneity in the genomic era. Advances in genomics are expected to have profound impacts on contemporary identities, including Indigeneity. A focus on social processes since the 1970s has left scholarship on Indigenous identity ill-equipped to grapple with the consequences of the genomic era. Drawing on multidisciplinary expertise, Indigenous and non-Indigenous investigators intend to examine biological and social influences on Indigeneity in narratives of self-presentation and in two fields currently being transformed by genomics: ancestry testing and repatriation. The project is expected to develop and test a biosocial model of Indigeneity to enhance existing knowledge of Indigenous identification as a critical factor in monitoring and improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people.Read moreRead less
When immigrants and converts are not truly one of us: Examining the social psychology and developmental antecedents of marginalizing racism. Marginalizing Racism, the simultaneous acceptance and rejection of others, is clearly present in Australia. It is not just a matter of thugs on the streets of Cronulla, but of elected politicians expressing Marginalizing Racist views. We believe that examining the social psychology and developmental causes of this insidious form of racism will pave the way ....When immigrants and converts are not truly one of us: Examining the social psychology and developmental antecedents of marginalizing racism. Marginalizing Racism, the simultaneous acceptance and rejection of others, is clearly present in Australia. It is not just a matter of thugs on the streets of Cronulla, but of elected politicians expressing Marginalizing Racist views. We believe that examining the social psychology and developmental causes of this insidious form of racism will pave the way for positive social change. This is not just an academic exercise, but a chance to expose and tackle a form of racism to which the broader public and our own profession appears to turn a blind eye. Moreover, as we expect this research to yield timely and influential discoveries, it will help maintain Australia's position as a world leader in the field of social psychology.Read moreRead less
Globalising Masculine Ideals: Chinese Men in Australia since 1980. This project explores how masculinity is constructed in present-day Australia amongst the Chinese diaspora and how these constructions have been and are being transformed. It follows from my recent research on the wen-wu (cultural attainment - martial valour) dyad as a Chinese masculinity ideal. My hypothesis in this project is that the traditional stereotypes continue their influence among the Chinese diaspora, but with salient ....Globalising Masculine Ideals: Chinese Men in Australia since 1980. This project explores how masculinity is constructed in present-day Australia amongst the Chinese diaspora and how these constructions have been and are being transformed. It follows from my recent research on the wen-wu (cultural attainment - martial valour) dyad as a Chinese masculinity ideal. My hypothesis in this project is that the traditional stereotypes continue their influence among the Chinese diaspora, but with salient modifications. The traditional primacy of wen is being contested when wen-wu is transplanted onto the Australian context. The findings, to be published as a book and articles, will shed new light on the evolving Chinese masculine identity.Read moreRead less
Indonesian Democracy: The Politics of Failed Reform and Regime Viability. Despite high hopes following the fall of Indonesia's authoritarian regime, political reform has been limited. The project examines the reasons for slow progress. Among the areas to be studied are constitutional and electoral reform, military reform, judicial reform, decentralisation, preservation of order and economic reform. It will argue that the weakness of the state in carrying out reforms is largely due to the penetra ....Indonesian Democracy: The Politics of Failed Reform and Regime Viability. Despite high hopes following the fall of Indonesia's authoritarian regime, political reform has been limited. The project examines the reasons for slow progress. Among the areas to be studied are constitutional and electoral reform, military reform, judicial reform, decentralisation, preservation of order and economic reform. It will argue that the weakness of the state in carrying out reforms is largely due to the penetration of the state itself by vested interests. Limited reforms have only been implemented when the viability of the regime itself has been at stake. This research is significant for Indonesian politics and political theory.Read moreRead less
Researching the Social Role of Religions in Australia. Most Australians claim allegiance to various religions in the Census. The number of religious denominations has greatly increased in recent years, most notably through immigration, with significant numbers from all world religions. Political and social policies are frequently influenced by religious principles and a detailed analysis of this variety is of crucial national importance. Religions from neighbouring societies are significantly r ....Researching the Social Role of Religions in Australia. Most Australians claim allegiance to various religions in the Census. The number of religious denominations has greatly increased in recent years, most notably through immigration, with significant numbers from all world religions. Political and social policies are frequently influenced by religious principles and a detailed analysis of this variety is of crucial national importance. Religions from neighbouring societies are significantly represented in Australia. Understanding them is of central importance in international political and commercial activity. Current research is essential, based on the most recent Census and other recent socio-economic information.
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Being Asian in Australia and the United States: Analysing Ethnic Representations in Visual Arts, Popular Culture, Academia and Community Festivals. Australia's engagement with Asia and North America remains central to our national security and economic development. This research offers a unique window into the experiences and sensibilities of a constituency within the Australian population which has been relatively unacknowledged in the official domain. A better understanding about Asians in Aus ....Being Asian in Australia and the United States: Analysing Ethnic Representations in Visual Arts, Popular Culture, Academia and Community Festivals. Australia's engagement with Asia and North America remains central to our national security and economic development. This research offers a unique window into the experiences and sensibilities of a constituency within the Australian population which has been relatively unacknowledged in the official domain. A better understanding about Asians in Australia and the US will enhance Australia's capacity to interpret itself to Asia and North America. Information about transnational Asian communities is an important means of improving our ability to respond to changing conditions within Australia and the region at large.Read moreRead less
The Political and Economic Agency of Africans in Australia. This project examines the nature and impact of political and economic agency among African migrants in Australia, using mixed methods (survey, interviews, media and policy analysis). With the right policy settings, African migrants and Australian communities stand to benefit enormously from projected African population growth. However, due to a two decade research focus on African refugees, little is known about the successful navigatio ....The Political and Economic Agency of Africans in Australia. This project examines the nature and impact of political and economic agency among African migrants in Australia, using mixed methods (survey, interviews, media and policy analysis). With the right policy settings, African migrants and Australian communities stand to benefit enormously from projected African population growth. However, due to a two decade research focus on African refugees, little is known about the successful navigation of political and economic life among the wider African diaspora. This project will generate new knowledge offering a blueprint for such policy settings. Outcomes include a monograph, 8 papers, and evidence-based policy advice on enhancing African migrant political and economic engagement in Australia. Read moreRead less
The politics of Indigenous enumeration in Australia, Canada and New Zealand - a history. The recent 'History Wars' demonstrated that how we tell our national story is more than an 'academic' issue. Settler-colonial nations, whether they enjoy it or not, are bound to ponder and to debate the histories of the relationships between colonisers and colonised. By being comparative, the project will enable Australians to consider what is common and what is unique in the Australian story. By highlightin ....The politics of Indigenous enumeration in Australia, Canada and New Zealand - a history. The recent 'History Wars' demonstrated that how we tell our national story is more than an 'academic' issue. Settler-colonial nations, whether they enjoy it or not, are bound to ponder and to debate the histories of the relationships between colonisers and colonised. By being comparative, the project will enable Australians to consider what is common and what is unique in the Australian story. By highlighting social science and social policy, the project will give interested Australians a context for their recent discussions about what policy (if any) should succeed 'self-determination'. Read moreRead less
The Indigenous Histories of Settler Societies. Until recently, Australia was officially engaged in Aboriginal Reconciliation. Yet the position of Aboriginal Australians in the wider society has not improved significantly. In this context, history and the way history is discussed are very important issues. The Australian community will benefit from an increased awareness of global trends regarding some inclusion of indigenous understandings in representations of national identity. The Australian ....The Indigenous Histories of Settler Societies. Until recently, Australia was officially engaged in Aboriginal Reconciliation. Yet the position of Aboriginal Australians in the wider society has not improved significantly. In this context, history and the way history is discussed are very important issues. The Australian community will benefit from an increased awareness of global trends regarding some inclusion of indigenous understandings in representations of national identity. The Australian community will benefit as well from a comparative analysis of the ways in which indigenous histories are produced and received. This project will provide an inclusive analysis of comparable debates and an assessment of the degree of recognition being acquired by indigenous communities elsewhere.Read moreRead less