Food, Farming and Financialisation: Agri-food Transformations in Australia. Through interviews and document analysis, this project aims to examine the ways financialisation is transforming agri-food industries in Australia. Financialisation – the growing presence of financial firms in contemporary economic relations – is an increasingly important, yet poorly understood, concept. Its application to food and farming industries is very recent. By investigating which countries and foreign firms are ....Food, Farming and Financialisation: Agri-food Transformations in Australia. Through interviews and document analysis, this project aims to examine the ways financialisation is transforming agri-food industries in Australia. Financialisation – the growing presence of financial firms in contemporary economic relations – is an increasingly important, yet poorly understood, concept. Its application to food and farming industries is very recent. By investigating which countries and foreign firms are purchasing food companies and farmlands, for what purposes, and with what outcomes, the project intends to ascertain the place of financialisation in the emergence of a third food regime and to clarify issues of ownership and control of Australia’s agri-food resources. This would provide policy-makers and the public with accurate information with which to assess whether agri-food investments strengthen national food security, provide positive benefits to rural communities, and comply with national investment guidelines.Read moreRead less
Assessing the harms of online speech. This project aims to clarify the ways in which online speech can inflict harm. It is accepted in speech-act theory that speech is conduct that is capable of inflicting harm. This project aims to map and compare legal cases in which there was disagreement over the nature of the speech at issue because it occurred online. It will assess the harms of that speech from the perspective of speech-act theory, and the findings will be applied to the democratic argume ....Assessing the harms of online speech. This project aims to clarify the ways in which online speech can inflict harm. It is accepted in speech-act theory that speech is conduct that is capable of inflicting harm. This project aims to map and compare legal cases in which there was disagreement over the nature of the speech at issue because it occurred online. It will assess the harms of that speech from the perspective of speech-act theory, and the findings will be applied to the democratic argument in favour of free speech. This project should lead to societal benefits in reducing expressive harms, and cultural benefits in enhancing all users' ability to participate in important, legitimating deliberation online.Read moreRead less
Populism’s Heartlands: Place, Identity, and Localism in Populist Politics. This project aims to investigate how populism intersects with localism through systematic, comparative, and in-depth empirical study of three populist parties inextricably associated with ‘heartlands’ in Australia, Germany and Spain. This project expects to generate new knowledge about how populists utilise the language of localism and how people’s attachment to place shapes their support for populists. Expected outcomes ....Populism’s Heartlands: Place, Identity, and Localism in Populist Politics. This project aims to investigate how populism intersects with localism through systematic, comparative, and in-depth empirical study of three populist parties inextricably associated with ‘heartlands’ in Australia, Germany and Spain. This project expects to generate new knowledge about how populists utilise the language of localism and how people’s attachment to place shapes their support for populists. Expected outcomes of the project include a new understanding of how populism and localism affect one another; and identification of how right and left populist support are differently affected by community engagement and participation. Benefits include the identification of local interventions to lessen the appeal of exclusionary populisms.Read moreRead less
Australian political rhetoric: the role of public speech by elected representatives in contemporary Australian politics. What is the public benefit of the endless rituals of rhetorical claim and counter-claim performed by members of parliament? This project demonstrates that rhetoric is central to politics, through detailed case analysis of the performative side of Australian parliamentary politics. Good rhetoric, when we have it, makes for good politics.
Radical Conservatism and the Political Crisis of Modernity 1900-2000. This project seeks to examine the responses made by three of the most important conservative thinkers of the modern age to the crisis in liberal values and democratic principles that took place between 1900 and 1945 in Europe and elsewhere. The theorists in question are Max Weber, Oswalt Spengler and Carl Schmitt. A comparative study of their writings will be made, focussing upon the impact of their work on radical conservati ....Radical Conservatism and the Political Crisis of Modernity 1900-2000. This project seeks to examine the responses made by three of the most important conservative thinkers of the modern age to the crisis in liberal values and democratic principles that took place between 1900 and 1945 in Europe and elsewhere. The theorists in question are Max Weber, Oswalt Spengler and Carl Schmitt. A comparative study of their writings will be made, focussing upon the impact of their work on radical conservative groups in Germany and the policies formed by the latter. The study will conclude with an application of their findings to our understanding of the rise of a populist radical conservatism in contemporary Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100029
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$355,847.00
Summary
Emotions and the future of international humanitarianism. This project aims to trace the emotional legacies that underpin humanitarian responsibilities in world politics by examining the historical development and possible future of international humanitarianism. The project expects to generate new insights into humanitarian values by advancing an innovative interdisciplinary inquiry that investigates how emotions shape moral duties to suffering communities. This will contribute a better unde ....Emotions and the future of international humanitarianism. This project aims to trace the emotional legacies that underpin humanitarian responsibilities in world politics by examining the historical development and possible future of international humanitarianism. The project expects to generate new insights into humanitarian values by advancing an innovative interdisciplinary inquiry that investigates how emotions shape moral duties to suffering communities. This will contribute a better understanding of norms and standards governing the future protection of global populations. This will enhance Australia’s capacity to respond ethically and strategically to humanitarian concerns as they play a more central role in global stability and national interests.Read moreRead less
Radical right populist parties. This project aims to explain why some radical right-wing populists in Western democracies enter governmental alliances with mainstream parties while others remain isolated. The emergence, spread and electoral success of radical right populists is a problem facing liberal democracy in the twenty-first century. While these parties’ policies, ideologies and rhetoric are similar, their relationships with mainstream parties are different. By examining explanatory facto ....Radical right populist parties. This project aims to explain why some radical right-wing populists in Western democracies enter governmental alliances with mainstream parties while others remain isolated. The emergence, spread and electoral success of radical right populists is a problem facing liberal democracy in the twenty-first century. While these parties’ policies, ideologies and rhetoric are similar, their relationships with mainstream parties are different. By examining explanatory factors that Political Science studies have so far been neglected, this project seeks to explain this variation and explore its implications for coalition theory.Read moreRead less
Democratic Leadership: How democracy shapes, constrains and empowers its leaders. A more profound understanding of the authority conferred, and limits imposed, by democracies on their leaders allows us to recognize what is, and is not, possible in democratic politics. It encourages a more subtle appreciation of the onerous demands of leadership, negotiating the extremes of idealism and cynical pragmatism that so often undermine confidence in politics and politicians. It gives greater insight int ....Democratic Leadership: How democracy shapes, constrains and empowers its leaders. A more profound understanding of the authority conferred, and limits imposed, by democracies on their leaders allows us to recognize what is, and is not, possible in democratic politics. It encourages a more subtle appreciation of the onerous demands of leadership, negotiating the extremes of idealism and cynical pragmatism that so often undermine confidence in politics and politicians. It gives greater insight into how democratic institutions and practices can be sustained and improved upon, both domestically, and internationally. Australia's commitment to democratisation in the region makes even more pressing the question of the type of leadership necessary in transitional states.Read moreRead less
Democrats at War: Democratic Leadership in an International Context. A more profound appreciation of what democracies can reasonably expect from their leaders in times of conflict will have significant benefits in both domestic and international arenas. In giving us greater clarity regarding what is, and is not, possible in democratic politics, especially in times of international instability, the study will provide insight into how democratic institutions and practices can be sustained and enha ....Democrats at War: Democratic Leadership in an International Context. A more profound appreciation of what democracies can reasonably expect from their leaders in times of conflict will have significant benefits in both domestic and international arenas. In giving us greater clarity regarding what is, and is not, possible in democratic politics, especially in times of international instability, the study will provide insight into how democratic institutions and practices can be sustained and enhanced. Australia's interest in regional stability, and its consequent encouragement of greater democratisation in the Pacific area, will find support in research that helps leaders in transitional states better understand and adapt to their vital role.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101127
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$379,000.00
Summary
The visual politics of populism. This project aims to investigate the visual politics of populism across the globe. Against a backdrop of unprecedented success of populists worldwide, the project will use six international case studies to comparatively examine how populists use visual media, how visual media covers populists, and the audience effects of these practices. Expected outcomes include enhanced insight into the linkages between populism, visual legitimacy and democracy, and a deeper un ....The visual politics of populism. This project aims to investigate the visual politics of populism across the globe. Against a backdrop of unprecedented success of populists worldwide, the project will use six international case studies to comparatively examine how populists use visual media, how visual media covers populists, and the audience effects of these practices. Expected outcomes include enhanced insight into the linkages between populism, visual legitimacy and democracy, and a deeper understanding of contemporary populism’s appeal. This project expects to inform how mainstream parties and civil society groups can better deal with populists, as well as informing best practice on how media can cover populists.Read moreRead less