A naturalistic approach to rights, norms and practices of freedom. We offer a naturalistic account of the dynamic relations between rights, norms and freedom. Case studies of the emergence of new rights for women and indigenous peoples will show how this approach generates new ways of understanding human rights, cultural norms and the interactions between them. Further outcomes will include a multidimensional approach to moral cosmopolitanism which provides a distinctive pluralistic alternativ ....A naturalistic approach to rights, norms and practices of freedom. We offer a naturalistic account of the dynamic relations between rights, norms and freedom. Case studies of the emergence of new rights for women and indigenous peoples will show how this approach generates new ways of understanding human rights, cultural norms and the interactions between them. Further outcomes will include a multidimensional approach to moral cosmopolitanism which provides a distinctive pluralistic alternative to current theories.Read moreRead less
The uneasy alliance between democracy and justice. This project will make a significant contribution to the understanding of our commitment to democratic values and practices, and what it entails for our local, regional and international obligations. It will directly address the challenge of maintaining social cohesion in an era of rapid social, economic and political change. And it will offer a fresh perspective on important public debates to do with Australian national identity and the relatio ....The uneasy alliance between democracy and justice. This project will make a significant contribution to the understanding of our commitment to democratic values and practices, and what it entails for our local, regional and international obligations. It will directly address the challenge of maintaining social cohesion in an era of rapid social, economic and political change. And it will offer a fresh perspective on important public debates to do with Australian national identity and the relation between democratic rights and individual responsibility. The project will also contribute to helping maintain and develop Australian research excellence and innovation in the field of political philosophy.Read moreRead less
Bridling Autocrats: Limiting Executive Power in Authoritarian Polities. This project will analyse the dynamics of elite politics in authoritarian polities, focusing in particular upon how members of the elite try to constrain would-be dictators. By showing the different patterns of elite politics in different types of authoritarian systems, the project will interrogate one of the most curious aspects of contemporary international politics, why so many authoritarian regimes have been able to stab ....Bridling Autocrats: Limiting Executive Power in Authoritarian Polities. This project will analyse the dynamics of elite politics in authoritarian polities, focusing in particular upon how members of the elite try to constrain would-be dictators. By showing the different patterns of elite politics in different types of authoritarian systems, the project will interrogate one of the most curious aspects of contemporary international politics, why so many authoritarian regimes have been able to stabilise themselves in an era commonly seen as being one of democratic advance. Understanding authoritarian elite politics and their implications for regime survival is of significant policy interest.Read moreRead less
Strategies for the stabilisation of authoritarian rule: Russia in comparative perspective. This project will explore why authoritarian rule has been consolidated in post-Soviet Russia. By analysing this in a comparative context, the project will also explore why so many countries are characterised by non-democratic political systems in this so-called age of democracy.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR200200385
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$262,359.00
Summary
Transforming Democracy in the Bush: A Study of Politics in Rural Australia. This project aims to examine changing patterns of political participation and representation in rural Australia. Almost one third of our population lives outside major cities yet little is known about the democratic dynamics unfolding in rural Australia as it faces major demographic, economic and environmental change. Through in-depth case research this project will analyse how rural Australians participate in politics, ....Transforming Democracy in the Bush: A Study of Politics in Rural Australia. This project aims to examine changing patterns of political participation and representation in rural Australia. Almost one third of our population lives outside major cities yet little is known about the democratic dynamics unfolding in rural Australia as it faces major demographic, economic and environmental change. Through in-depth case research this project will analyse how rural Australians participate in politics, the interests they seek to advance and the efficacy of their political and civic activities. Expected outcomes include strengthened research capacity in rural politics, new frameworks for assessing how democracy is transforming, and reform pathways to enhance the engagement of diverse constituencies in our political system.Read moreRead less
China's invisible economic leadership: women in family enterprises. Chinese women are generally regarded as not having been in the leadership of economic reform. In contrast, the Chief Investigator's recent research on the new rich in North China suggests that the wives of new entrepreneurs may play significant, though unacknowledged, leadership roles in enterprise development. In particular, it suggests that women often act as business managers and accountants alongside their husbands, especial ....China's invisible economic leadership: women in family enterprises. Chinese women are generally regarded as not having been in the leadership of economic reform. In contrast, the Chief Investigator's recent research on the new rich in North China suggests that the wives of new entrepreneurs may play significant, though unacknowledged, leadership roles in enterprise development. In particular, it suggests that women often act as business managers and accountants alongside their husbands, especially in family based enterprises first established in the private sector. It is now proposed to test the wider applicability of these findings, and explore the consequences for the development of enterprises, families and local politics.Read moreRead less
Openness in China under the WTO Regime: the Case of Dingzhou. The project will contribute to a better understanding in Australia of openness in local China, in particular, and sociopolical change in China and the globalization process in general. In doing so, it will to add to Australia's international reputation as a major centre of research on China and as a leader in research socio-political change at the local level. It is also likely to benefit bilateral trade by providing useful informatio ....Openness in China under the WTO Regime: the Case of Dingzhou. The project will contribute to a better understanding in Australia of openness in local China, in particular, and sociopolical change in China and the globalization process in general. In doing so, it will to add to Australia's international reputation as a major centre of research on China and as a leader in research socio-political change at the local level. It is also likely to benefit bilateral trade by providing useful information to those in Australia who wish to do business in China, especially in small cities like Dingzhou and rural areas. Read moreRead less
Debating Democracy: Political Rhetoric in New South Wales 1856–1890. This project will highlight the innovatory nature of democracy in colonial Australia, by establishing the nature of the relationship between political ideas, political language and political practice in one of the first liberal democracies of the modern world. In so doing it will enable a new and detailed picture to emerge of the type of political society that liberalism and democracy created in colonial Australia. As the first ....Debating Democracy: Political Rhetoric in New South Wales 1856–1890. This project will highlight the innovatory nature of democracy in colonial Australia, by establishing the nature of the relationship between political ideas, political language and political practice in one of the first liberal democracies of the modern world. In so doing it will enable a new and detailed picture to emerge of the type of political society that liberalism and democracy created in colonial Australia. As the first comprehensive study of political rhetoric in Australian history, this project will facilitate a new understanding of the distinctiveness of Australian political language and Australian political culture.Read moreRead less
The Persona of State: Conceptualising the State in International Relations. This project will develop a comprehensive theoretical account of the State as a conceptual necessity in international relations. Despite universal acknowledgement of the State as central to the discipline, no comprehensive conceptualisation has been attempted from an international perspective. The State will be investigated as a persona, embodying various properties, necessary from a range of perspectives, in various for ....The Persona of State: Conceptualising the State in International Relations. This project will develop a comprehensive theoretical account of the State as a conceptual necessity in international relations. Despite universal acknowledgement of the State as central to the discipline, no comprehensive conceptualisation has been attempted from an international perspective. The State will be investigated as a persona, embodying various properties, necessary from a range of perspectives, in various forms in modern history. This should provide in a monograph and articles a multi-faceted but easily comprehensible theory of the state that is not only a powerful analytical tool, but will provide a solid basis for subsequent theorising about international relations.Read moreRead less
The New Rich and the State in China: The social basis of local power. Australia's relationship with China is important for economic, political and social, reasons. This project will generally assist in contributing to understanding about China's social and political development, and will develop specific expertise in the socio-economic environments of its research localities across five provinces that will be of use to Australian companies seeking access to the China market. It will also add to ....The New Rich and the State in China: The social basis of local power. Australia's relationship with China is important for economic, political and social, reasons. This project will generally assist in contributing to understanding about China's social and political development, and will develop specific expertise in the socio-economic environments of its research localities across five provinces that will be of use to Australian companies seeking access to the China market. It will also add to the development of Australia's standing as a major centre of research on contemporary China. Read moreRead less