Kadare post Communism: Albania, the Balkans and Europe in the Work of Ismail Kadare, 1990-2008. Albanians make up a small but important segment of multicultural Australia. Through the work of Albania's greatest writer and intellectual, Ismail Kadare, we can come to a better understanding of Albanians, their history and culture, and hence of Australia as a multicultural entity. Moreover traditionally Islamic Albania, with its Ottoman history and culture, is seeking inclusion into the European Uni ....Kadare post Communism: Albania, the Balkans and Europe in the Work of Ismail Kadare, 1990-2008. Albanians make up a small but important segment of multicultural Australia. Through the work of Albania's greatest writer and intellectual, Ismail Kadare, we can come to a better understanding of Albanians, their history and culture, and hence of Australia as a multicultural entity. Moreover traditionally Islamic Albania, with its Ottoman history and culture, is seeking inclusion into the European Union, Australia's major partner in trade, tourism, education and culture. Kadare's post-communist works on the subjects of Europe, Islam, Muslims and the West, and Balkan politics and history provide a valuable lesson on the interrelationships of politics, culture and patriotism in a global context for contemporary Australia.Read moreRead less
Germany in China: Colonial Interactions, Qingdao 1897-1914. The project will assist in increasing Australia's knowledge base about both colonialism in general and social change in China; to add to Australia's international reputation as a major center of research on China; and to provide additional information on local development in Qingdao, a major growth area in East China, that assists those engaged in government and business relations.
Province, Nation, Empire: France, 1871-1940. This project will deepen understanding of structures of political, strategic and economic power by providing insight into the dynamics of regionalist, nationalist and internationalist ideologies through study of the world's second largest overseas empire. It examines the role of non-state initiatives and pressures, while also investigating the colonial origins of contemporary globalisation. It will shed light, in particular, on the post-colonial heri ....Province, Nation, Empire: France, 1871-1940. This project will deepen understanding of structures of political, strategic and economic power by providing insight into the dynamics of regionalist, nationalist and internationalist ideologies through study of the world's second largest overseas empire. It examines the role of non-state initiatives and pressures, while also investigating the colonial origins of contemporary globalisation. It will shed light, in particular, on the post-colonial heritage of actions in countries of the Asia-Pacific region that were French colonies or that remain French overseas outposts.Read moreRead less
Love narratives in contemporary German literature since 1990. This study of love in contemporary German literature will lead to deeper insights into intimacy in one of our major European trading partners, as it undergoes a period of economic uncertainty and social change. It will enhance our understanding of the varied ways in which individuals, as well as national literatures in the western tradition, respond to the challenges of globalization. Through examining the semantics of modern love and ....Love narratives in contemporary German literature since 1990. This study of love in contemporary German literature will lead to deeper insights into intimacy in one of our major European trading partners, as it undergoes a period of economic uncertainty and social change. It will enhance our understanding of the varied ways in which individuals, as well as national literatures in the western tradition, respond to the challenges of globalization. Through examining the semantics of modern love and what love means to different sections of society (friendship, passion, marriage, sex etc.) in a contemporary European culture that bears many similarities to our own, this project will bring benefits to Australians' understanding of how the meaning of love evolves over time. Read moreRead less
The Anatomy and Physiology of Renaissance Florence: the Dynamics of Social Change in the Fifteenth Century. In 2004, Australia's reputation as an international leader in Italian Renaissance history contributed directly to an agreement with Italy's Cassamarca Foundation bringing $22.5 million AUD to Australian universities. This has funded a dozen Italian-studies lectureships, numerous fellowships and scholarships in Australian universities, raising Italian culture's profile in academia, the stud ....The Anatomy and Physiology of Renaissance Florence: the Dynamics of Social Change in the Fifteenth Century. In 2004, Australia's reputation as an international leader in Italian Renaissance history contributed directly to an agreement with Italy's Cassamarca Foundation bringing $22.5 million AUD to Australian universities. This has funded a dozen Italian-studies lectureships, numerous fellowships and scholarships in Australian universities, raising Italian culture's profile in academia, the student body and the wider community. This new project on Florentine society will advance the field of Renaissance social history, reinforce Australia's outstanding reputation in the area, promote international agreements like that with the Fondazione Cassamarca, and confer further major academic, cultural and economic benefits on Australian national culture.Read moreRead less
BEYOND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: THE URBAN HISTORIES OF SOCIABILITY AND COMMUNITY IN RENAISSANCE FLORENCE, 1400-1500. Australians are internationally-recognised leaders in Renaissance history. In 2000, this reputation directly contributed to a major international agreement with the Italian Cassamarca Foundation. The Foundation has funded eleven Italian-studies lectureships and many scholarships in Australian universities, raising Italian culture's profile in academia, the student body and the wider com ....BEYOND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: THE URBAN HISTORIES OF SOCIABILITY AND COMMUNITY IN RENAISSANCE FLORENCE, 1400-1500. Australians are internationally-recognised leaders in Renaissance history. In 2000, this reputation directly contributed to a major international agreement with the Italian Cassamarca Foundation. The Foundation has funded eleven Italian-studies lectureships and many scholarships in Australian universities, raising Italian culture's profile in academia, the student body and the wider community. The present project on Florentine urban society will advance the field of Renaissance social history, reinforce Australia's already high international profile in the area, and promote international agreements such as that with the Fondazione Cassamarca, thereby conferring major academic, cultural and economic benefits on Australian national culture.Read moreRead less
The Spectre of Velvet Revolution: Dissidents, International Civil Society and post-Communist Authoritarianism. The study of 'Velvet Revolution,' both as a theory and as historical events, has immense implications for Australian policymakers. As an approach to regime change that does not entail foreign military intervention, 'Velvet Revolution' offers a path for democratic transition that minimises nationalist resentment and post-revolutionary violence. As a radical challenge to undemocratic regi ....The Spectre of Velvet Revolution: Dissidents, International Civil Society and post-Communist Authoritarianism. The study of 'Velvet Revolution,' both as a theory and as historical events, has immense implications for Australian policymakers. As an approach to regime change that does not entail foreign military intervention, 'Velvet Revolution' offers a path for democratic transition that minimises nationalist resentment and post-revolutionary violence. As a radical challenge to undemocratic regimes, it also constitutes a potent alternative to militant Islamism. By illuminating the role of dissidents and international civil society as protagonists and purveyors of 'Velvet Revolution,' this project will help to clarify the conditions that have facilitated the successful spread of democratic revolution.Read moreRead less
Colonial Cosmopolitanism and Chinese Modernity: German Economic and Cultural Adventurers in China 1870-1937. The project will assist in increasing Australia's knowledge base about both colonialism in general and social change in China; and will add to Australia's international reputation as a major centre of research on China. It will increasing understandings of the important histories of China's interactions with the outside world, lessons that will spill over into Australia's history, current ....Colonial Cosmopolitanism and Chinese Modernity: German Economic and Cultural Adventurers in China 1870-1937. The project will assist in increasing Australia's knowledge base about both colonialism in general and social change in China; and will add to Australia's international reputation as a major centre of research on China. It will increasing understandings of the important histories of China's interactions with the outside world, lessons that will spill over into Australia's history, current and future interactions with China. In the process the project challenges the myth of an isolated, xenophobic 'China as Middle Kingdom' by exploring histories of China's productive interactions with major economic powers, such as Germany. Read moreRead less
Rome and its histories 1750-2000: an iconic city's past and its importance to the present. This study explores the many ways in which the past in Rome, the 'eternal city', has been debated and portrayed by historians but also by groups as diverse as Catholics, city planners, archaeologists and tourists. The outcome will be a novel account from which we can draw lessons regarding the multiple uses of history to better understand the impact of heritage on contemporary lives.
A difficult marriage: gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. This project focuses on the interrelationships between gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. Through an exploration of how the political ?marriage? between East and West Germany, with its conventionalised gender roles, is mapped onto literary marriages, the project examines the challenges and opportunities that unification has afforded men and women. It will y ....A difficult marriage: gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. This project focuses on the interrelationships between gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. Through an exploration of how the political ?marriage? between East and West Germany, with its conventionalised gender roles, is mapped onto literary marriages, the project examines the challenges and opportunities that unification has afforded men and women. It will yield insights into the ways in which unification has rewritten the scripts for femininity and masculinity and forced a transformation of intimacy. Its findings will enhance knowledge of gender relations in post-communist Europe and the relationships between gender, the nation and modernity.Read moreRead less