Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354865
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Pacific Futures Network: Security, Governance and Development in the Pacific Islands Region. The proposed research network will interweave the following strands in order to create an entirely new level and quality of diagnosis, prognosis and action in Pacific-oriented research: (a) ANU and Australian expertise and knowledge base; (b) regional expertise, especially in universities, research institutes, archives and cultural institutions; (c) digital expertise; (d) existing networking capacity and ....Pacific Futures Network: Security, Governance and Development in the Pacific Islands Region. The proposed research network will interweave the following strands in order to create an entirely new level and quality of diagnosis, prognosis and action in Pacific-oriented research: (a) ANU and Australian expertise and knowledge base; (b) regional expertise, especially in universities, research institutes, archives and cultural institutions; (c) digital expertise; (d) existing networking capacity and future potential. Thematically, it will place primary emphasis on research on conventional and human security, governance, development and other issues pertaining to the condition of the polities and economies of Australia's near Pacific neighbours, including the Melanesian states characterised as 'weak' and more recently, 'failed'.Read moreRead less
Nuclear Giants? Prospects for Nuclear Energy in China and India. Since the traditional path of energy consumption is not an option for China and India, nuclear energy is recommended as a clean and sustainable alternative. If either China or India or both start expanding their nuclear energy capacity, Australia has a direct interest as a major supplier of coal, natural gas and uranium. As two unconvential great powers, their ability to expand nuclear energy to an extent necessary to meet the ch ....Nuclear Giants? Prospects for Nuclear Energy in China and India. Since the traditional path of energy consumption is not an option for China and India, nuclear energy is recommended as a clean and sustainable alternative. If either China or India or both start expanding their nuclear energy capacity, Australia has a direct interest as a major supplier of coal, natural gas and uranium. As two unconvential great powers, their ability to expand nuclear energy to an extent necessary to meet the challenges will have security implications in the region. Understanding the nuclear politics in these two countries is a necessary requirement for Australia.Read moreRead less
The 2004 Australian Election Study Survey: The Decline of Political Parties? Long renowned for the stability of its political party system, Australia is finally experiencing a sustained challenge to the dominance of the major parties, which is reflected in an increasing preference by voters for minor parties and independent candidates. This project will examine the implications of these developments by conducting a public-use, national sample survey of voters at the next federal election, likely ....The 2004 Australian Election Study Survey: The Decline of Political Parties? Long renowned for the stability of its political party system, Australia is finally experiencing a sustained challenge to the dominance of the major parties, which is reflected in an increasing preference by voters for minor parties and independent candidates. This project will examine the implications of these developments by conducting a public-use, national sample survey of voters at the next federal election, likely to be held in 2004. The outcomes generated by the project will enhance academic and community understanding of the nature of the changing partisan climate within the Australian electorate.Read moreRead less
Burma's Role in Shaping the Asia-Pacific Strategic Environment. Australia is an active participant in global security affairs, not only as a close ally of the United States but also as an independent middle power with its own perceived sphere of influence. Developments in the strategic environment and the way in which countries attempt to influence state behaviours are central to our national security posture and alliance relationships. Also, the diverse security challenges in the Asia-Pacific r ....Burma's Role in Shaping the Asia-Pacific Strategic Environment. Australia is an active participant in global security affairs, not only as a close ally of the United States but also as an independent middle power with its own perceived sphere of influence. Developments in the strategic environment and the way in which countries attempt to influence state behaviours are central to our national security posture and alliance relationships. Also, the diverse security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, such as those associated with so-called 'pariah' states like Burma, and the management of related transnational threats, are critical to the formulation and implementation of Australia's foreign and defence policies.
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The Dilemmas of Energy Security in China and India. As a major energy exporter to both China and India, Australia to a significant extent is dependent on the stability and integrity of the international energy trade and more broadly of the global trade in goods and services. China and India are major trading partners of Australia and have emerged as major potential markets for Australia's energy exports. Developing a comprehensive understanding of the energy policy making dilemmas of these two e ....The Dilemmas of Energy Security in China and India. As a major energy exporter to both China and India, Australia to a significant extent is dependent on the stability and integrity of the international energy trade and more broadly of the global trade in goods and services. China and India are major trading partners of Australia and have emerged as major potential markets for Australia's energy exports. Developing a comprehensive understanding of the energy policy making dilemmas of these two emerging great powers thus sits at the core of this country's security and foreign policy considerations.Read moreRead less
Governing vs. opposition parties and the global financial crisis: Comparing the United Kingdom and Australia. The Australian Prime Minister has described the global financial crisis as the 'equivalent of a rolling national security crisis'. Our project, which examines the pressures upon political parties to adopt an adversarial approach to crises as an election approaches, benefits the nation by enhancing our understanding of how political systems cope with crisis. Should governing and oppositio ....Governing vs. opposition parties and the global financial crisis: Comparing the United Kingdom and Australia. The Australian Prime Minister has described the global financial crisis as the 'equivalent of a rolling national security crisis'. Our project, which examines the pressures upon political parties to adopt an adversarial approach to crises as an election approaches, benefits the nation by enhancing our understanding of how political systems cope with crisis. Should governing and opposition parties unite in order to tackle the national crisis and portray consensus to the outside world? Or should they continue to engage in routine adversary criticism, facilitating dialogue and providing a 'check' on a centralised response? Our research will help develop an understanding of Australia's capacity to respond to major economic threats.Read moreRead less
The Politics of Alliance Affinity. There is bipartisan consensus in Australia that the alliance with the US is the 'cornerstone' of Australia's security. However, many of the United States' alliances are increasingly being placed under strain by demographic and attitudinal changes, changing US force postures, and a shift in US policy on coalition military activities. Managing the alliance relationship with Washington will be a serious challenge for Australia's security policy makers. Australia a ....The Politics of Alliance Affinity. There is bipartisan consensus in Australia that the alliance with the US is the 'cornerstone' of Australia's security. However, many of the United States' alliances are increasingly being placed under strain by demographic and attitudinal changes, changing US force postures, and a shift in US policy on coalition military activities. Managing the alliance relationship with Washington will be a serious challenge for Australia's security policy makers. Australia also has significant security relationships with New Zealand and the UK. Understanding the domestic politics of their security policies will provide a much firmer basis for managing these aspects of Australia's international security.Read moreRead less
The Evolution of East Asian Regionalism. In the aftermath of the East Asian crisis of 1997, the countries of East Asia have embarked upon a self-consciously pursued project of political integration or regionalism. If successful, it will have profound implications for the region's internal and external relations, and future development. This project will examine how regionalism is evolving in this strategically pivotal area, detail the factors that are encouraging or obstructing this process, and ....The Evolution of East Asian Regionalism. In the aftermath of the East Asian crisis of 1997, the countries of East Asia have embarked upon a self-consciously pursued project of political integration or regionalism. If successful, it will have profound implications for the region's internal and external relations, and future development. This project will examine how regionalism is evolving in this strategically pivotal area, detail the factors that are encouraging or obstructing this process, and provide a more appropriate theoretical framework in which to understand East Asia's highly distinctive style of regional integration.Read moreRead less
The Gender Politics of Global Economic Competitiveness in Southeast Asia. States such as Malaysia face similar economic challenges to Australia - for example maintaining economic competitiveness in the face of rising competition from low(er) wage labour countries (especially China), maintaining and enhancing a competitive ICT infrastructure and building successful and sustainable technology policies. Critically assessing the role that women and the family can play in Malaysia's attempts to trans ....The Gender Politics of Global Economic Competitiveness in Southeast Asia. States such as Malaysia face similar economic challenges to Australia - for example maintaining economic competitiveness in the face of rising competition from low(er) wage labour countries (especially China), maintaining and enhancing a competitive ICT infrastructure and building successful and sustainable technology policies. Critically assessing the role that women and the family can play in Malaysia's attempts to transition to a more knowledge intensive economy will invariably open up policy lessons for Australia.Read moreRead less
Forgiveness in conflict resolution and peacebuilding: international dimensions. In an age in which ongoing conflicts and tensions have very real ramifications for international and regional security, finding new and more effective ways to resolve international disputes is critical to ensuring Australia's ongoing security. This project will therefore benefit Australia by 'enhancing our nation's understanding of social, political, and cultural issues' associated with the resolution of conflict in ....Forgiveness in conflict resolution and peacebuilding: international dimensions. In an age in which ongoing conflicts and tensions have very real ramifications for international and regional security, finding new and more effective ways to resolve international disputes is critical to ensuring Australia's ongoing security. This project will therefore benefit Australia by 'enhancing our nation's understanding of social, political, and cultural issues' associated with the resolution of conflict in the Asia Pacific region. By helping to develop an alternative peacebuilding tool, it will also assist those engaged in the practical delivery of peacebulding initiatives in the region.Read moreRead less