The transnational history of the Chinese Nationalist Party. First the project contributes to better understanding of Australia's region, secondly it enhances understanding of the place of international Chinese communities in world politics, trade, and migration, thirdly it contributes to Australian understanding of the ties linking the Chinese diaspora in Australia to other Chinese communities around the world and in China, fourth it contributes to important international debates on migration an ....The transnational history of the Chinese Nationalist Party. First the project contributes to better understanding of Australia's region, secondly it enhances understanding of the place of international Chinese communities in world politics, trade, and migration, thirdly it contributes to Australian understanding of the ties linking the Chinese diaspora in Australia to other Chinese communities around the world and in China, fourth it contributes to important international debates on migration and ethnic politics over the course of the 20th century, and fifth it confirms Australia's international standing as a site of innovation and excellence in research on the Asian and Pacific regions.Read moreRead less
Possessing the Dead: The Artful Science of Anatomy. This project has applied benefits which lie in its ability to stimulate and inform broad participation in an important contemporary national debate about the use and abuse of human remains. Medical authorities fear that, following the disclosure of abusive practices with the dead, public distrust will lead to fewer bodies being donated for post-mortem medical use. The project will engage in these debates, in both academic and non-academic forum ....Possessing the Dead: The Artful Science of Anatomy. This project has applied benefits which lie in its ability to stimulate and inform broad participation in an important contemporary national debate about the use and abuse of human remains. Medical authorities fear that, following the disclosure of abusive practices with the dead, public distrust will lead to fewer bodies being donated for post-mortem medical use. The project will engage in these debates, in both academic and non-academic forums, to facilitate a deeper understanding of what needs to be taken into account in national initiatives to deter unethical practices with human remains and provide donors with greater confidence. Read moreRead less
Continuities and change in the history of European women's letter-writing. This project will enhance Australia's strong international reputation for cutting-edge work in European history. At a time when questions about communication, self-representation and personal life are of such very great interest, both academically and more generally, this project offers the possibility of bringing academic scholarship closer to issues that are of general interest to the wider community. There is also cons ....Continuities and change in the history of European women's letter-writing. This project will enhance Australia's strong international reputation for cutting-edge work in European history. At a time when questions about communication, self-representation and personal life are of such very great interest, both academically and more generally, this project offers the possibility of bringing academic scholarship closer to issues that are of general interest to the wider community. There is also considerable national benefit in the innovative approach that this project proposes, which offers a new model for collaborative research in the humanities.Read moreRead less
Settler colonialism: a global history. Australia is usually defined as a 'settler society', but this term, while often being politically charged, is vaguely defined. This project seeks to place the Australian experience in its international context. In doing this, it will offer new insights into the past and future development of Australian political institutions and traditions. It will promote an appreciation of how Australian history fits within global developments and how a comparative and gl ....Settler colonialism: a global history. Australia is usually defined as a 'settler society', but this term, while often being politically charged, is vaguely defined. This project seeks to place the Australian experience in its international context. In doing this, it will offer new insights into the past and future development of Australian political institutions and traditions. It will promote an appreciation of how Australian history fits within global developments and how a comparative and global perspective generates new possibilities and insights for the writing, reading and teaching of Australian history. It will also stress Australia's important role in the development of this globally significant phenomenon.Read moreRead less
In Her Place: state intervention and Indigenous domestic service in Australia and the United States, 1880-1945. As a transnational history of Indigenous domestic labour and government intervention, this project positions Australian scholarship at the forefront of major research initiatives in gender, race and colonialism studies, promoting Australian research among the international community of scholars. More importantly, by increasing public awareness of the complexity of race relations histor ....In Her Place: state intervention and Indigenous domestic service in Australia and the United States, 1880-1945. As a transnational history of Indigenous domestic labour and government intervention, this project positions Australian scholarship at the forefront of major research initiatives in gender, race and colonialism studies, promoting Australian research among the international community of scholars. More importantly, by increasing public awareness of the complexity of race relations history in our society, and taking understanding beyond the confines of a purely national outlook, this project contributes to ongoing efforts to address, come to terms with, and indeed learn from the more traumatic aspects of our history, in positive and constructive new ways.Read moreRead less
'Puppet States' Revisited: Empire and Sovereign Subordination in Modern Asia. The term 'puppet state' is a part of public discourse in Australia. It is used by scholars, journalists, commentators and members of the public to characterize specific international relationships in the contemporary world. While being used as an analytical term, it carries a strong pejorative connotation. This project will contribute significantly to giving the term clarity and stability of meaning that will enhance t ....'Puppet States' Revisited: Empire and Sovereign Subordination in Modern Asia. The term 'puppet state' is a part of public discourse in Australia. It is used by scholars, journalists, commentators and members of the public to characterize specific international relationships in the contemporary world. While being used as an analytical term, it carries a strong pejorative connotation. This project will contribute significantly to giving the term clarity and stability of meaning that will enhance the quality of public discussion of international affairs and lead to a more informed approach to safeguarding Australia. The insights we generate by this comparison will illuminate the controversial contemporary issue of international intervention in the territory of sovereign states.Read moreRead less
The causes and consequences of the great famines of the last two centuries in Russia, China, Ireland and elsewhere. Famines have huge human, economic, social and cultural costs. A better understanding of the multi-faceted dimensions of past famines - the interplay between politics, economics, environment and culture in causing and shaping the response to famine events - will better inform public policy in regard to analogous large-scale crises, including the impact of flu pandemics and climate c ....The causes and consequences of the great famines of the last two centuries in Russia, China, Ireland and elsewhere. Famines have huge human, economic, social and cultural costs. A better understanding of the multi-faceted dimensions of past famines - the interplay between politics, economics, environment and culture in causing and shaping the response to famine events - will better inform public policy in regard to analogous large-scale crises, including the impact of flu pandemics and climate change. The comparative study of the causes, progress, responses to and effect of the great famines of the last two centuries might serve to better inform our understanding and response to such events. Read moreRead less
Subversion and Dissent in the Third Reich. Through the new approach of analysing records of Germans put on trial by the Nazi regime for the crime of "subversion," for which an estimated 60,000 Germans were prosecuted, I will gain access to a hitherto neglected current of popular dissent and discontent within the Third Reich. My project will challenge the conventional view that German society in the Third Reich was overwhelmingly consensual, apart from a miniscule group of anti-Nazi resisters. Th ....Subversion and Dissent in the Third Reich. Through the new approach of analysing records of Germans put on trial by the Nazi regime for the crime of "subversion," for which an estimated 60,000 Germans were prosecuted, I will gain access to a hitherto neglected current of popular dissent and discontent within the Third Reich. My project will challenge the conventional view that German society in the Third Reich was overwhelmingly consensual, apart from a miniscule group of anti-Nazi resisters. The outcome will be a more nuanced, complex picture of German society revealing that many Germans exhibited an amibivalent mix of consensus and dissent toward the Nazi regime.Read moreRead less
The growth of toleration in a cosmopolitan society: Protestants in eighteenth-century Paris. In an international context in which religious conflict appears to be increasing, and an Australia where religious diversity is growing, understanding the historical and cultural roots of toleration is vital. This project will reinforce Australia's reputation for innovative and independent work in French and urban history, both areas where Australian scholars are well known internationally.
'Ordinary Writings': lower-class writing practices in the transition to mass literacy in Europe, 1800-1918. This project contributes to public debate on literacy and literacy standards. Its historical perspective offers an antidote to conventional wisdom. It will show that there is no clear separation between literacy and illiteracy, that levels of literary competence vary according to specific occasions and specific tasks, and that schooling is not necessary for literacy acquisition. It will he ....'Ordinary Writings': lower-class writing practices in the transition to mass literacy in Europe, 1800-1918. This project contributes to public debate on literacy and literacy standards. Its historical perspective offers an antidote to conventional wisdom. It will show that there is no clear separation between literacy and illiteracy, that levels of literary competence vary according to specific occasions and specific tasks, and that schooling is not necessary for literacy acquisition. It will help put Australian research in the international forefront of cultural history. It will show that written heritage deserves full recognition in all its aspects, not just as the expression of educated elites. This aspect of our written patrimony needs re-evaluation, and we need to improve preservation of it and accessibility to it.Read moreRead less