Internationalisation and Democracy. This project aims to advance knowledge of how internationalisation affects the quality of democratic representation in established democracies such as Australia, the US and the UK. It expects to generate new insights into how internationalisation expands or limits the scope for democratic accountability, responsiveness and responsibility. It plans to develop and test new theories with comparative analyses that focus on economic, social and environmental polici ....Internationalisation and Democracy. This project aims to advance knowledge of how internationalisation affects the quality of democratic representation in established democracies such as Australia, the US and the UK. It expects to generate new insights into how internationalisation expands or limits the scope for democratic accountability, responsiveness and responsibility. It plans to develop and test new theories with comparative analyses that focus on economic, social and environmental policies. Expected outcomes include improved measures of internationalisation, and insights into the opportunities and challenges it poses for democratic representation. The project should provide significant benefits by countering misconceptions in current academic and public debates.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
The Politicisation of Free Trade Agreements in the US, EU and Australia. This project aims to investigate why free trade agreements are increasingly politicised in liberal democracies. Politicisation has generated widespread public backlash against free trade but has also varied across agreements and countries. The project uses a novel comparative framework to explain the economic and political factors determining free trade agreement politicisation in the US, EU and Australia, actors with the m ....The Politicisation of Free Trade Agreements in the US, EU and Australia. This project aims to investigate why free trade agreements are increasingly politicised in liberal democracies. Politicisation has generated widespread public backlash against free trade but has also varied across agreements and countries. The project uses a novel comparative framework to explain the economic and political factors determining free trade agreement politicisation in the US, EU and Australia, actors with the most trade deals. Expected outcomes include new understandings of public backlash against free trade and globalisation. Expected benefits include recommendations on including civil society in trade policy-making and allaying populist protectionism, without jeopardising economic openness and the rules-based liberal order.Read moreRead less
Governance in a Shrinking, Fragmenting World. 'The End of Sovereignty?' was a well received study in which the applicants examined the need to reconceptualize the 'sovereign state' in a rapidly globalizing world. Ten years later, this new study builds on that foundation. Through careful sifting of the empirical evidence, it examines both the challenge of globalization for governance, and institutional and normative responses to that challenge. In doing so, it aims to develop a clearer interpreta ....Governance in a Shrinking, Fragmenting World. 'The End of Sovereignty?' was a well received study in which the applicants examined the need to reconceptualize the 'sovereign state' in a rapidly globalizing world. Ten years later, this new study builds on that foundation. Through careful sifting of the empirical evidence, it examines both the challenge of globalization for governance, and institutional and normative responses to that challenge. In doing so, it aims to develop a clearer interpretation of the dynamics of global social change in relation to the national state, and a framework of analysis which, with whatever qualifications prove necessary, takes us beyond the sovereignty discourse.Read moreRead less
What determines the political consequences of financial crises? Ideas, institutions, and society over the long run. Recent financial crises have often had powerful political consequences, including political turnover, rising polarisation and social unrest; but these consequences also vary greatly across countries and over time. In a novel investigation of the political aftermaths of financial crises over two centuries, this project will develop a comprehensive understanding of the causes of this ....What determines the political consequences of financial crises? Ideas, institutions, and society over the long run. Recent financial crises have often had powerful political consequences, including political turnover, rising polarisation and social unrest; but these consequences also vary greatly across countries and over time. In a novel investigation of the political aftermaths of financial crises over two centuries, this project will develop a comprehensive understanding of the causes of this variation. Its theoretical significance lies in its investigation of time-dependent processes that have been largely ignored by existing literature: what shapes the duration of political effects, how are societal expectations about government policy responsibilities (re)shaped by financial crises, and how do such expectations affect political and policy outcomes?Read moreRead less
Catching capital: Understanding and influencing corporate tax strategy. This project aims to analyse the factors which influence the tax strategies of large multi-national corporations, and explain variations in behaviour between firms and industry sectors. Identifying reforms that exert the greatest influence over corporate behaviour will enable reforms which refine and improve the efficacy of international tax regimes. The expected outcomes will provide an evidence base for policy makers to ev ....Catching capital: Understanding and influencing corporate tax strategy. This project aims to analyse the factors which influence the tax strategies of large multi-national corporations, and explain variations in behaviour between firms and industry sectors. Identifying reforms that exert the greatest influence over corporate behaviour will enable reforms which refine and improve the efficacy of international tax regimes. The expected outcomes will provide an evidence base for policy makers to evaluate and refine corporate tax reform initiatives.Read moreRead less
The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Violence Against Women. Post-conflict and political transitions are major opportunities for advancing women’s rights and participation. Yet an apparent spike in sexual- and gender-based violence against women hinders these opportunities once armed conflict is stabilised or regime change is achieved. This project aims to explain the causes of that violence and its consequences for women’s economic and political participation in different environments. It wil ....The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Violence Against Women. Post-conflict and political transitions are major opportunities for advancing women’s rights and participation. Yet an apparent spike in sexual- and gender-based violence against women hinders these opportunities once armed conflict is stabilised or regime change is achieved. This project aims to explain the causes of that violence and its consequences for women’s economic and political participation in different environments. It will compare post-conflict, political transition and non-conflict countries across two regions, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and North Africa, examining the gender inequalities, regional patterns, and global forces that appear to heighten violence against women and hinder women’s participation.Read moreRead less
Animals and geopolitics in South Asian borderlands. The project evaluates the impact of animals on the politics of South Asian borderlands, which are exposed to climate change, species decline and intensifying nuclear state rivalry. Using a comparative multispecies ethnography of India’s borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, it will study the role of animals in reinforcing or subverting the power of sovereign states. Expected outcomes are new analytical and conceptual tools to understand ....Animals and geopolitics in South Asian borderlands. The project evaluates the impact of animals on the politics of South Asian borderlands, which are exposed to climate change, species decline and intensifying nuclear state rivalry. Using a comparative multispecies ethnography of India’s borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, it will study the role of animals in reinforcing or subverting the power of sovereign states. Expected outcomes are new analytical and conceptual tools to understand these overlooked actors in geopolitics and the links between foreign, security and transboundary conservation policies. This knowledge has potential application in demilitarisation and cooperation around transborder animal flows, benefitting security, ecosystems and Australian interests in South Asia.Read moreRead less
Small business job creation: employer and employee perspectives of job quality. Small business is high on the policy agenda as employment growth is trending downwards. Recent recommendations to increase small business employment highlight the importance of both quantity and job quality. This project will investigate what is a quality small business job from employer and employee perspectives. The research will focus on new small business jobs in the Latrobe Valley - a 'less favored' region. The ....Small business job creation: employer and employee perspectives of job quality. Small business is high on the policy agenda as employment growth is trending downwards. Recent recommendations to increase small business employment highlight the importance of both quantity and job quality. This project will investigate what is a quality small business job from employer and employee perspectives. The research will focus on new small business jobs in the Latrobe Valley - a 'less favored' region. The findings will fill a significant gap in knowledge about the process of job generation and lead to a better understanding of the determinants of job quality from different perspectives, which can assist economic policy development.Read moreRead less
Pacific futures and second generation transnationalism: a Tongan case study. As Australia considers its role in the Pacific it is imperative to understand the changing transnational ties of Pacific Islanders. A decline in ties such as remittances will have far-reaching implications for vulnerable Island economies and societies, and this study of 'second generation? Tongans will assess the extent to which transnational ties are likely to persist. Australia is Tonga's primary provider of developme ....Pacific futures and second generation transnationalism: a Tongan case study. As Australia considers its role in the Pacific it is imperative to understand the changing transnational ties of Pacific Islanders. A decline in ties such as remittances will have far-reaching implications for vulnerable Island economies and societies, and this study of 'second generation? Tongans will assess the extent to which transnational ties are likely to persist. Australia is Tonga's primary provider of development cooperation, and a decline in these ties will impact on this relationship. The project will contribute to planning for Australia's future relationship with Tonga and the Pacific region in areas such as aid, migration and security. Read moreRead less