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
The Racial Century. My aim is to produce an intellectual history of bio-politics in what I call the 'racial century' between 1850 and 1950 by studying the cases of Germany and Australia. Not only will the project contribute to the literature in social theory on race and 'modernity', but also to the recent controversial historiography of genocide and the Holocaust. It will offer a new way of linking eugenic thought and policy development (bio-politics) with nation building, imperial competition, ....The Racial Century. My aim is to produce an intellectual history of bio-politics in what I call the 'racial century' between 1850 and 1950 by studying the cases of Germany and Australia. Not only will the project contribute to the literature in social theory on race and 'modernity', but also to the recent controversial historiography of genocide and the Holocaust. It will offer a new way of linking eugenic thought and policy development (bio-politics) with nation building, imperial competition, and international and intra-national racial struggle, thereby transcending unproductive debates about the precendence or uniqueness of particular genocides.Read moreRead less
Assimilation and Empire. There are growing calls internationally for the integration of immigrant communities as a long-term means of combating terrorism. Through an understanding of the history of assimilation, this project provokes considerable scepticism concerning the current resurgence of assimilationist sentiment. The politics of culturally diverse societies are profound but they are not going to be solved by simplistic diagnosis. The politics of assimilation is not the solution to cont ....Assimilation and Empire. There are growing calls internationally for the integration of immigrant communities as a long-term means of combating terrorism. Through an understanding of the history of assimilation, this project provokes considerable scepticism concerning the current resurgence of assimilationist sentiment. The politics of culturally diverse societies are profound but they are not going to be solved by simplistic diagnosis. The politics of assimilation is not the solution to contemporary terrorism but part of the problem. Thus at the heart of this project lie concerns which directly address the National Research Priority, Safeguarding Australia.Read moreRead less
Being Famous in China: Celebrities, Heroes and Public Figures. This project furthers Australian understanding of our most strategically important neighbours, the People's Republic of China. The better we understand how it mobilises exemplars, and famous people for social cohesion or economic and political causes the more likely we are to be able to further Australian interests within this large market. Celebrity systems are integral to advertising campaigns, therefore the better we understand ho ....Being Famous in China: Celebrities, Heroes and Public Figures. This project furthers Australian understanding of our most strategically important neighbours, the People's Republic of China. The better we understand how it mobilises exemplars, and famous people for social cohesion or economic and political causes the more likely we are to be able to further Australian interests within this large market. Celebrity systems are integral to advertising campaigns, therefore the better we understand how celebrity is perceived the more likely we are to create effective marketing strategies for Australian exports. The project also enhances Australia's strong reputation as leaders in scholarship in Chinese Studies by producing research publications of high impact. Read moreRead less
Regulating Morals in Modern Japan. The project will examine the contestation over modernity in early twentieth century Japan as revealed in heightened attempts to regulate public morals. Focus on regulation of morals shifts the traditional emphasis on foreign, military developments to domestic social change to explain the repressive, expansionist state of the 1930s. Investigation of the everyday makes concrete the meaning and experience of modernity in interwar Japan. Examining the role of middl ....Regulating Morals in Modern Japan. The project will examine the contestation over modernity in early twentieth century Japan as revealed in heightened attempts to regulate public morals. Focus on regulation of morals shifts the traditional emphasis on foreign, military developments to domestic social change to explain the repressive, expansionist state of the 1930s. Investigation of the everyday makes concrete the meaning and experience of modernity in interwar Japan. Examining the role of middle class activists adds a dimension to the debates over the consequences of modernization.Read moreRead less
Cambodia: Place, People and Politics; Environmental, Economic, Cultural, Political, and Regional History since Earliest Times. Understanding the region and the world is vital to safeguarding Australia. Cambodian-Australian relations are important to Australia's foreign policy, both in Southeast Asia and globally. Australia's substantial Cambodian communities remain very interested in developments in their home country. This project will heighten Australia's profile in Cambodia, stimulate regiona ....Cambodia: Place, People and Politics; Environmental, Economic, Cultural, Political, and Regional History since Earliest Times. Understanding the region and the world is vital to safeguarding Australia. Cambodian-Australian relations are important to Australia's foreign policy, both in Southeast Asia and globally. Australia's substantial Cambodian communities remain very interested in developments in their home country. This project will heighten Australia's profile in Cambodia, stimulate regional research among Khmer-Australians, and attract top students and Post-Doctoral Fellows from Cambodia and other countries. Cambodia's specific ecological conditions and the long and important documented history of its people and their role in the region, will result in this project having a significant impact on Australian, regional and global study of Southeast Asia.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
Complex Words: Literary Judgments in the British Commonwealth, 1920-1970. Examining the 'traffic' in ideas about literature between Britain and Australia in the context of a broad comparative study will add a historical perspective to contemporary debates over globalization and 'cultural imperialism', and Australian culture's place in those debates. Because the project engages with questions that are studied extensively by historians elsewhere in the world, it will integrate Australian history f ....Complex Words: Literary Judgments in the British Commonwealth, 1920-1970. Examining the 'traffic' in ideas about literature between Britain and Australia in the context of a broad comparative study will add a historical perspective to contemporary debates over globalization and 'cultural imperialism', and Australian culture's place in those debates. Because the project engages with questions that are studied extensively by historians elsewhere in the world, it will integrate Australian history further into European and North American discussions of imperialism and the circulation and reception of ideas and books.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