Brokering Democracy: United States Policy toward Chile from Nixon to Bush Sr. (September 1973-December 1989). Australia's capacity to interpret and engage its regional and global environment is more dependent on thorough anaysis of American foreign policy than ever before. Distinguishing between US and Ausralian national interests is vital to avoid making commitments that prove harmful to Australia's best interests and its international standing. The way in which the US resolved the tensions bee ....Brokering Democracy: United States Policy toward Chile from Nixon to Bush Sr. (September 1973-December 1989). Australia's capacity to interpret and engage its regional and global environment is more dependent on thorough anaysis of American foreign policy than ever before. Distinguishing between US and Ausralian national interests is vital to avoid making commitments that prove harmful to Australia's best interests and its international standing. The way in which the US resolved the tensions been national interest and democracy promotion in Chile provides a key reference point for subsequent US interventions in the Third World up to the present. Public discussion about contemporary US foreign policy will be encouraged via newspaper articles, media interviews, and a companion website to the monographRead moreRead less
Globalization and New Wars: The War in Chechnya. Identifying the causes of conflict has practical applications for Australian security policy formulation, since an area of instability exists within our region. A finding that causes of war arise either from complex domestic political struggles, or processes of globalization, has implications for which strategic posture Australia should adopt in responding to crises. The project falls within Research Priority 4: 'Safeguarding Australia'. By addres ....Globalization and New Wars: The War in Chechnya. Identifying the causes of conflict has practical applications for Australian security policy formulation, since an area of instability exists within our region. A finding that causes of war arise either from complex domestic political struggles, or processes of globalization, has implications for which strategic posture Australia should adopt in responding to crises. The project falls within Research Priority 4: 'Safeguarding Australia'. By addressing the need to better understand causes of war, it assists Australian policymakers to better understand and manage potential threats. Greater knowledge of war likewise assists defence policy planners to maintain an operational advantage for Australia's defence forces.Read moreRead less
Comparative Border Studies. While borders are of increasing interest to Australian scholars and policy-makers, much existing research in Australia is focused on issues of border security or border integrity. There is an urgent need to supplement this work with theoretical and empirical insights drawn from the field of border studies. North America is a key site for international research in this field. Collaboration with North American scholars is thus an important step in developing and expandi ....Comparative Border Studies. While borders are of increasing interest to Australian scholars and policy-makers, much existing research in Australia is focused on issues of border security or border integrity. There is an urgent need to supplement this work with theoretical and empirical insights drawn from the field of border studies. North America is a key site for international research in this field. Collaboration with North American scholars is thus an important step in developing and expanding Australian expertise in border studies. This project will provide the intellectual environment and collaborative networks necessary to establish the first dedicated Centre for Border Studies in Australia.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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Representation and Political Regimes in Southeast Asia. Comprehending drivers and directions of political regimes in Southeast Asia is urgently needed as the global financial crisis and climate change pose new challenges for Australia's regional engagement. Aid strategies to support and promote preferred political and other governance institutions will be enhanced by knowledge of the conflicts and alliances over political representation. Specific coalitions functional for democratic institutions ....Representation and Political Regimes in Southeast Asia. Comprehending drivers and directions of political regimes in Southeast Asia is urgently needed as the global financial crisis and climate change pose new challenges for Australia's regional engagement. Aid strategies to support and promote preferred political and other governance institutions will be enhanced by knowledge of the conflicts and alliances over political representation. Specific coalitions functional for democratic institutions in particular would become clearer. Business interests in trade and investment will benefit from understanding the nature and extent of conflicts over representation and their potential or otherwise to result in trade protectionism and affect political stability.Read moreRead less
The political economy of preferential trade in the Western Asia Pacific region. This study will undertake the first systematic, theoretically-informed comparative analysis of the origins, evolution and effects of the new preferential trade agreements (PTAs) in which at least one of the parties is an economy on the Western Pacific Rim. It will provide a significant geographical extension of the knowledge base regarding the origins and effects of PTAs, and contribute to the testing of hypotheses ....The political economy of preferential trade in the Western Asia Pacific region. This study will undertake the first systematic, theoretically-informed comparative analysis of the origins, evolution and effects of the new preferential trade agreements (PTAs) in which at least one of the parties is an economy on the Western Pacific Rim. It will provide a significant geographical extension of the knowledge base regarding the origins and effects of PTAs, and contribute to the testing of hypotheses and development of theory regarding this important recent departure in commercial diplomacy. It will generate a single-authored book and a series of journal articles.Read moreRead less
Insurgency and Strategic Non-Violence: The Resistance in East Timor. The best-known forms of resistance to foreign occupation are violent ones. This project investigates how a largely non-violent insurgency was successful despite being geographically and militarily isolated. It provides important new insights into the research on insurgency and non-violence. It also helps us to better understand East Timor.
Assessing the Role of Political and Regulatory Risks for Foreign Investors: A Multi-Country Study of Four Industry Sectors. This project will benefit Australian enterprise engaged in investment activities in Asia by providing them with the necessary methodological and analytical systems to identify, measure and assess political and regulatory risks to their investment interests. By doing so, the project will increase the investment transparency of Asia's emerging economies and thus the ability ....Assessing the Role of Political and Regulatory Risks for Foreign Investors: A Multi-Country Study of Four Industry Sectors. This project will benefit Australian enterprise engaged in investment activities in Asia by providing them with the necessary methodological and analytical systems to identify, measure and assess political and regulatory risks to their investment interests. By doing so, the project will increase the investment transparency of Asia's emerging economies and thus the ability of Australian enterprise to operate efficiently in institutionally complex and competitive offshore environments. This will benefit Australia's economy by strengthening Australia's national economic security and the safety of Australia's national savings invested in the region.Read moreRead less
Democratization, Institutional Reform and Ethnic Politics in the Asia-Pacific. The democratisation of the Asia-Pacific has significant implications for Australia. Consolidated democracies are better able to manage internal conflicts, and less likely to pose a threat to their neighbours via arms trafficking, refugee flows, and transnational terrorism. However, the initial transitional period of democratisation can be highly fraught, and many of the new democracies of the Asia-Pacific are fragile, ....Democratization, Institutional Reform and Ethnic Politics in the Asia-Pacific. The democratisation of the Asia-Pacific has significant implications for Australia. Consolidated democracies are better able to manage internal conflicts, and less likely to pose a threat to their neighbours via arms trafficking, refugee flows, and transnational terrorism. However, the initial transitional period of democratisation can be highly fraught, and many of the new democracies of the Asia-Pacific are fragile, beset by internal cleavages and conflicts. If ways can be found to manage ethnic and other cleavages within a democratic framework, the prospects for peaceful and stable governance in the region will be significantly enhanced. This has the potential to transform the security of the region and Australia's relations with it.Read moreRead less
The Politics of Accountability Reform in Southeast Asia. Australian foreign policymakers and businesses operating in Southeast Asia derive security and commercial advantages from understanding the direction and drivers of politics in the region. New accountability reforms are integral to this politics and, consequently, Australian aid money is being directed towards support for such institutions. However, depending on their nature and support bases, accountability reforms can enhance or suppress ....The Politics of Accountability Reform in Southeast Asia. Australian foreign policymakers and businesses operating in Southeast Asia derive security and commercial advantages from understanding the direction and drivers of politics in the region. New accountability reforms are integral to this politics and, consequently, Australian aid money is being directed towards support for such institutions. However, depending on their nature and support bases, accountability reforms can enhance or suppress citizens' and investors' powers in relation to public and private authorities. Analysing accountability institutions in this way can thus help refine aid strategies and foreign policy meant to increase scrutiny of how authorities in political and economic governance exercise power. Read moreRead less