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
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
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 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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101838
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Impunity and state violence in Thailand. This project will detail the complexities of the legal and extrajudicial challenges to democracy in Thailand, one of Australia's strategically and economically important Southeast Asian neighbours. The results will offer new historical and theoretical insights on how impunity for state violence affects state formation and nation-building.
Handbooks and Environmental Knowledge in Thailand. This project will contribute to maintaining Australian scholars at the forefront of innovative research in Southeast Asia. The project will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of attitudes towards the environment within the region. Australia has a significant aid investment in the region and this is likely to grow as a result of the White Paper on overseas development aid. In Southeast Asia much of the aid effort addresses issues of susta ....Handbooks and Environmental Knowledge in Thailand. This project will contribute to maintaining Australian scholars at the forefront of innovative research in Southeast Asia. The project will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of attitudes towards the environment within the region. Australia has a significant aid investment in the region and this is likely to grow as a result of the White Paper on overseas development aid. In Southeast Asia much of the aid effort addresses issues of sustainable resource management. Australian businesses have also indicated that deeper insights into local perspectives on sustainability and resource management will be useful in enhancing economic cooperation.Read moreRead less
A History of Taiwan. Taiwan, a middle-sized Asian nation with a population about twenty per cent greater than Australia, is one of four stable democracies in Asia along with India, Japan and South Korea. As such, it shares democratic values with Australia. We also have strong trade and investment relationships with Taiwan. China's claim that Taiwan belongs to China has made our relationship with Taiwan difficult, though in fact we have a strong 'officially unofficial' relationship with the islan ....A History of Taiwan. Taiwan, a middle-sized Asian nation with a population about twenty per cent greater than Australia, is one of four stable democracies in Asia along with India, Japan and South Korea. As such, it shares democratic values with Australia. We also have strong trade and investment relationships with Taiwan. China's claim that Taiwan belongs to China has made our relationship with Taiwan difficult, though in fact we have a strong 'officially unofficial' relationship with the island. This history will substantially strengthen our understanding of this key Asia-Pacific partner both in government and among Australia's citizens.Read moreRead less
A study of recent social movements in the Philippines. This project seeks to understand the nature and development of social movements in the Philippines since the 1970s. The Philippines is an important Australian neighbour; a point endorsed by the 2005 agreement of cooperation between the Australian Federal Police and the Philippine government. And yet, it is far too little studied in this country where there are very few specialists. Australia needs to understand the Philippines better as it w ....A study of recent social movements in the Philippines. This project seeks to understand the nature and development of social movements in the Philippines since the 1970s. The Philippines is an important Australian neighbour; a point endorsed by the 2005 agreement of cooperation between the Australian Federal Police and the Philippine government. And yet, it is far too little studied in this country where there are very few specialists. Australia needs to understand the Philippines better as it will continue to be an important ally. How the tenets of an activist group in Southeast Asia are transmitted to other potential members is necessary to Australian understandings of regional social movements, and this in turn is vital to political interactions, to NGO work, and to multicultural interactions.Read moreRead less
Post-war repatriation to Japan: citizenship, identity and integration, 1945-1956. This research project contributes to our knowledge of the region by exploring the early post-war history (in which Australian troops participated as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces) of one of Australia's most important and oldest trading partners. However, the project also has broader and more contemporary significance: on the one hand, it contributes to our knowledge of the increasingly importan ....Post-war repatriation to Japan: citizenship, identity and integration, 1945-1956. This research project contributes to our knowledge of the region by exploring the early post-war history (in which Australian troops participated as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces) of one of Australia's most important and oldest trading partners. However, the project also has broader and more contemporary significance: on the one hand, it contributes to our knowledge of the increasingly important 20th century phenomenon of mass migration, and of the development of strict state controls over population movements across national borders. On the other hand, it explores the complex integration of minority groups into national populations; this is a process which clearly has relevance beyond Japan and beyond the 1950s.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