Quality and the Culture of Hierarchy, Governance and Socialization in Contemporary China. China is a key country for Australia in terms of economic, military, and cultural exchange, and mutual cooperation on regional issues. By contributing to understandings of the social and cultural bases of Chinese governance, this project will enhance the abilities of Australians involved in Chinese affairs in all fields. Understanding the dynamics of social hierarchy and local governance in China will als ....Quality and the Culture of Hierarchy, Governance and Socialization in Contemporary China. China is a key country for Australia in terms of economic, military, and cultural exchange, and mutual cooperation on regional issues. By contributing to understandings of the social and cultural bases of Chinese governance, this project will enhance the abilities of Australians involved in Chinese affairs in all fields. Understanding the dynamics of social hierarchy and local governance in China will also contribute to the project of imagining more equitable forms of governance in Australia. Finally, the project involves the training of two Australian postgraduate students in the severely under-represented sub-discipline of the anthropology of China.Read moreRead less
LANGUAGES OF SECURITY IN THE ASIAN REGION AND AUSTRALIA. Recognising that the challenge of 'safeguarding Australia' must take account of Australia's regional environment, the project will explore the different vocabulary, concepts, axioms and norms relating to security issues in Asian societies and Australia. It will consider the way different security understandings can help to explain divergent state and non-state action in approaches to defence matters as well as terrorism and transnational ....LANGUAGES OF SECURITY IN THE ASIAN REGION AND AUSTRALIA. Recognising that the challenge of 'safeguarding Australia' must take account of Australia's regional environment, the project will explore the different vocabulary, concepts, axioms and norms relating to security issues in Asian societies and Australia. It will consider the way different security understandings can help to explain divergent state and non-state action in approaches to defence matters as well as terrorism and transnational crime. Collaboration with the Industry Partner will assist the Project to be developed (e.g. in the identification of key concepts) and communicated in a way that will be of maximum use to Australian government and its agencies.Read moreRead less
Collaboration, Nationalism and Imperial Strategy: Japanese-trained Armies in Northeast Asia 1932-1949. This project analyses the political and military significance of three local armies developed by the Japanese in Manchuria and Mongolia between 1932 and 1945. The project examines archival material and newspapers, as well as conducting fresh interviews, to explain the reasons for Japan's creation of these armies, the reasons why local people took part in them, and the consequences of this parti ....Collaboration, Nationalism and Imperial Strategy: Japanese-trained Armies in Northeast Asia 1932-1949. This project analyses the political and military significance of three local armies developed by the Japanese in Manchuria and Mongolia between 1932 and 1945. The project examines archival material and newspapers, as well as conducting fresh interviews, to explain the reasons for Japan's creation of these armies, the reasons why local people took part in them, and the consequences of this participation for Japanese imperialist plans and local nationalist aspirations. The project sets this analysis in the broader context of Japanese imperialism and examines the continuing political role of the armies in the region.Read moreRead less
Borders and Empires: A Historical Atlas of Northeast Asia, 1636 - 2006. This historical atlas brings insights into the continuing tensions in Northeast Asia, both in the Korean Peninsula, and between China and Russia, where old antagonisms have repeatedly led to armed conflict and where border friction today is exacerbated by economic disparities, population movements and rival nationalist rhetorics. Our research deepens the understanding of decision-makers and of the Australian public concernin ....Borders and Empires: A Historical Atlas of Northeast Asia, 1636 - 2006. This historical atlas brings insights into the continuing tensions in Northeast Asia, both in the Korean Peninsula, and between China and Russia, where old antagonisms have repeatedly led to armed conflict and where border friction today is exacerbated by economic disparities, population movements and rival nationalist rhetorics. Our research deepens the understanding of decision-makers and of the Australian public concerning these issues. The project contributes important insights into the flexibility of borders at a time when they under new challenge. Our study of settler politics in Northeast Asia and the settler relations with indigenous political forces is also relevant to Australia's history and present. Read moreRead less
The Indonesian Killings of 1965-1966. This project analyses the immediate and long-term causes of the killing of perhaps 500,000 communists and others in Indonesia between October 1965 and March 1966. The project examines newly available archival and memoir material, as well as conducting fresh interviews, to explain the respective roles of the Indonesian armed forces, military-sponsored and independent militias, and civilian viglantes in initiating and carrying out the killings. The project ....The Indonesian Killings of 1965-1966. This project analyses the immediate and long-term causes of the killing of perhaps 500,000 communists and others in Indonesia between October 1965 and March 1966. The project examines newly available archival and memoir material, as well as conducting fresh interviews, to explain the respective roles of the Indonesian armed forces, military-sponsored and independent militias, and civilian viglantes in initiating and carrying out the killings. The project sets this detailed examination in the context of the extreme political tension in Indonesia in the early 1960s and more-deeply rooted patterns of violence in Indonesian society.Read moreRead less
A Historical and Cultural Analysis of Qigong in Contemporary China. This project will assist Australians to understand important developments in contemporary Chinese society, enhancing the basis of our bilateral relationship, especially in discussions of human rights and refugee issues. A better knowledge of qigong will also promote social and religious understanding in Australia where qigong practice is a significant feature of some sectors of society. This project will complement and enhance ....A Historical and Cultural Analysis of Qigong in Contemporary China. This project will assist Australians to understand important developments in contemporary Chinese society, enhancing the basis of our bilateral relationship, especially in discussions of human rights and refugee issues. A better knowledge of qigong will also promote social and religious understanding in Australia where qigong practice is a significant feature of some sectors of society. This project will complement and enhance Australia's already strong international reputation in contemporary Chinese Studies and foster future collaborations and networks. Finally, it will also give unique insights, from a particular Australian perspective, on the impact of the international media on the creation of China issues in a global context.Read moreRead less
Education reform and social transformation in rural China. This project will increase Australian understanding of China's transformation from a rural, agricultural nation into an urban industrialized one. It will also build a collaboration between the Australian National University and the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, which will facilitate the ability of Australian postgraduate students to undertake field research in China.
Chanted tales from Highland New Guinea: a comparative study of oral performance traditions and their role in contemporary land politics. In parts of Highland PNG there are flourishing traditions of epic-like chanted tales. Often dealing with relationships between people and land, these are a highly valued cultural resource. From the perspective of comparative poetics they are one of the clearest known examples of measured verse that has developed independently of alphabetic or syllabic writing. ....Chanted tales from Highland New Guinea: a comparative study of oral performance traditions and their role in contemporary land politics. In parts of Highland PNG there are flourishing traditions of epic-like chanted tales. Often dealing with relationships between people and land, these are a highly valued cultural resource. From the perspective of comparative poetics they are one of the clearest known examples of measured verse that has developed independently of alphabetic or syllabic writing. This project brings together an interdisciplinary team of investigators to analyse the wide range of styles in which these narratives are performed, and further the understanding of their implications for cross-cultural study of verbal art and the politics of land ownership in present-day Papua New Guinea.Read moreRead less
Islam, Nationalism and Secession in Aceh, Indonesia. This project will produce the first in-depth analysis of the secessionist movement in Aceh, Indonesia, and of attempts to resolve the long-running violent conflict in that territory. By doing so, it will contribute to our understanding of processes of national disintegration and reintegration in Indonesia. The project will also contribute to broader theoretical debates in political science and related disciplines about the genesis and developm ....Islam, Nationalism and Secession in Aceh, Indonesia. This project will produce the first in-depth analysis of the secessionist movement in Aceh, Indonesia, and of attempts to resolve the long-running violent conflict in that territory. By doing so, it will contribute to our understanding of processes of national disintegration and reintegration in Indonesia. The project will also contribute to broader theoretical debates in political science and related disciplines about the genesis and development of nationalism, especially in Islamic societies, and on how national identity and violent separatist conflicts may be transformed by peace processes and autonomy arrangements.Read moreRead less
Islam and identity in Java: the violent culmination and subsequent decline of communal conflict, c. 1920- present. This project analyses for the first time the culmination of politicised and bloody conflict along lines of Islamic religious identity within Javanese society - today 100-million strong and Indonesia's largest ethnic group - and the subsequent decline and depoliticisation of those religiously defined categories, c. 1920-present. This process has left Javanese society more deeply Isla ....Islam and identity in Java: the violent culmination and subsequent decline of communal conflict, c. 1920- present. This project analyses for the first time the culmination of politicised and bloody conflict along lines of Islamic religious identity within Javanese society - today 100-million strong and Indonesia's largest ethnic group - and the subsequent decline and depoliticisation of those religiously defined categories, c. 1920-present. This process has left Javanese society more deeply Islamised than at any time in its history. But conflicting categories might, in theory, be repoliticised. The 2004 election campaign will be crucial for this analysis. The resultant book will be the last of three analysing the Islamisation of the Javanese from the 14th century to the present.
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