Confronting the devolution paradox: constitutional values, federal political culture and governance reform. Australia, like many countries, depends in part on devolutionary reform if its federal system of government is to adapt effectively to change. This project confronts a key barrier to reform; the ‘devolution paradox’, in which popular demands for decentralisation and diversity are confounded by conflicting political pressures for national policy uniformity and control. By mapping and compar ....Confronting the devolution paradox: constitutional values, federal political culture and governance reform. Australia, like many countries, depends in part on devolutionary reform if its federal system of government is to adapt effectively to change. This project confronts a key barrier to reform; the ‘devolution paradox’, in which popular demands for decentralisation and diversity are confounded by conflicting political pressures for national policy uniformity and control. By mapping and comparing the constitutional values and federal political culture of Australian citizens, citizens in Canada, USA and UK, and Australian reform policymakers, in more detail than ever before, it will give insights into how this key paradox might be resolved, helping unlock reform potential and restore adaptive capacity to our political system.Read moreRead less
Transnational environmental crime: applying network theory to an investigation of illegal trade, criminal activity and law enforcement responses. This project investigates illegal environmental trade, one of the fastest growing areas of transnational crime, and explores how governments and other actors can best develop effective law enforcement responses. It will expand our understanding of an under-researched field and strengthen the regulatory capacity of Australian government agencies.
The Future of Oceans Governance in Polar Areas. Australia has a compelling national interest in maintaining its sovereignty and security in the Antarctic. Australian government goals include maintaining the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS); enhancing Australia's influence within the system; protecting the Antarctic environment; understanding the role of Antarctica in the global climate system; and undertaking scientific work of practical, economic and national significance. This project directly ad ....The Future of Oceans Governance in Polar Areas. Australia has a compelling national interest in maintaining its sovereignty and security in the Antarctic. Australian government goals include maintaining the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS); enhancing Australia's influence within the system; protecting the Antarctic environment; understanding the role of Antarctica in the global climate system; and undertaking scientific work of practical, economic and national significance. This project directly addresses national research priorities through analysis of oceans governance issues that centre on Australian interests. This project will also contribute to national benefit by focusing on issues central to the International Polar Year.Read moreRead less
Strengthening Australia's national integrity system. Strengthening Australia's national integrity system. This project aims to equip governments and civil society stakeholders with evidence-based options to improve the structure and operations of integrity institutions, by undertaking a second National Integrity System Assessment. Public integrity is vital to social and economic prosperity and the quality of democracy. This project intends to identify new, more effective strategies to prevent co ....Strengthening Australia's national integrity system. Strengthening Australia's national integrity system. This project aims to equip governments and civil society stakeholders with evidence-based options to improve the structure and operations of integrity institutions, by undertaking a second National Integrity System Assessment. Public integrity is vital to social and economic prosperity and the quality of democracy. This project intends to identify new, more effective strategies to prevent corruption and other integrity violations; coordinate the work of integrity institutions; ensure their accountability; and measure the effectiveness of integrity and anti-corruption policy settings. This research is expected to contribute to better evaluation of integrity policies worldwide.Read moreRead less
Following the Money: The Birth, Diffusion and Effectiveness of the Global Regime to Counter Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. Countering international crime and terrorism are two of the government's top priorities, and attacking the financial underpinnings of these threats is crucial to combatting both. The more knowledge generated about the design, diffusion and effectiveness of existing standards in these areas, the more successful this effort can become. Australia is more closely invo ....Following the Money: The Birth, Diffusion and Effectiveness of the Global Regime to Counter Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. Countering international crime and terrorism are two of the government's top priorities, and attacking the financial underpinnings of these threats is crucial to combatting both. The more knowledge generated about the design, diffusion and effectiveness of existing standards in these areas, the more successful this effort can become. Australia is more closely involved with the campaign to stop such illicit financial activity than any other country in the Asia-Pacific region. That our domestic laws and regulations are often designed by international organisations, rather than federal or state governments, is a matter of broad political significance and of community interest.Read moreRead less
Building an Indian Ocean region. The Indian Ocean Region, of vital geopolitical importance to Australia, is the heart of the Third World - overwhelmed by chronic poverty, precarious political systems, and conflicting ethno-religious identities. This project will document attempts at constructing regional identities and institutions, and facilitate the process of 'building' a secure Region.
ARC Asia-Pacific Futures Research Network. The ARC Asia Pacific Futures Network is an international vehicle for building research capacity in the national research system to enhance understanding of Australia, its region, and the world. The Network brings experienced researchers working in identified research areas and themes into dynamic collaboration with government and industry through structured programs, with a view to stimulating new research directions, partnerships and training opportuni ....ARC Asia-Pacific Futures Research Network. The ARC Asia Pacific Futures Network is an international vehicle for building research capacity in the national research system to enhance understanding of Australia, its region, and the world. The Network brings experienced researchers working in identified research areas and themes into dynamic collaboration with government and industry through structured programs, with a view to stimulating new research directions, partnerships and training opportunities. In its 5-year plan, the Network will focus on Governance and Security, Culture and Religion, Media and Communications, Health and Population, and Trade and Industry. APFN will also have the capacity to marshal expertise on pressing issues facing Australia and the region as a whole.Read moreRead less
From Emergence to Demise: Examining the Dynamic Life Cycle of Terrorist Campaigns. Australia has made a long term commitment to the global campaign against terrorism, under the sound premise that it will take a persistent investment of energy and resources to succeed, and the notion that success in this struggle will be contingent on the depth of our knowledge about the nature of the threat. This project will contribute to this effort by enhancing global understanding of the different stages of ....From Emergence to Demise: Examining the Dynamic Life Cycle of Terrorist Campaigns. Australia has made a long term commitment to the global campaign against terrorism, under the sound premise that it will take a persistent investment of energy and resources to succeed, and the notion that success in this struggle will be contingent on the depth of our knowledge about the nature of the threat. This project will contribute to this effort by enhancing global understanding of the different stages of the dynamic life cycle of terrorist campaigns, and by formulating empirically based policy recommendations that will move beyond flawed quick-fix solutions, toward the building of a consistent long-term incremental strategy for managing a threat that will never fully disappear.Read moreRead less
Can saying something make it so? Sedition, speech act theory and the status of freedom of speech in Australia. A good grasp of the conceptual underpinnings of sedition laws and conceptual clarity is an essential precursor to law reform in this area. By applying theories of the relation between speech and action drawn from philosophy of language to the assessment of sedition laws, the project will enhance Australia's research skills in political philosophy and clarify a grey and contested area of ....Can saying something make it so? Sedition, speech act theory and the status of freedom of speech in Australia. A good grasp of the conceptual underpinnings of sedition laws and conceptual clarity is an essential precursor to law reform in this area. By applying theories of the relation between speech and action drawn from philosophy of language to the assessment of sedition laws, the project will enhance Australia's research skills in political philosophy and clarify a grey and contested area of law. Any number of groups in Australian society, including writers, journalists, artists, academics, politicians and political activists, could be affected by these laws. Consequently, a clarification of this area is both urgent and vital for national interests.Read moreRead less
Democracy at the end of the world: new perspectives on the politics and government of Antarctica. This project provides a fundamental re-interpretation of Antarctica, revisits the history of its governing arrangements, considers their twenty-firt century global significance and asks whether they can survive the mounting global pressures to 'open up' the continent to the alleged imperatives of commercial and military interests.