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
Trans/national activism: Organizing for Domestic Worker Rights in Southeast Asia. This project will contribute to the identified national priority, Safeguarding Australia, by providing a better understanding of the issues surrounding labour migration, including the capacity of NGOs and state governments to address the needs and rights of labour migrants in Southeast Asia. By expanding our understanding of the possibilities for democratisation within the region and contributing to theoretical dev ....Trans/national activism: Organizing for Domestic Worker Rights in Southeast Asia. This project will contribute to the identified national priority, Safeguarding Australia, by providing a better understanding of the issues surrounding labour migration, including the capacity of NGOs and state governments to address the needs and rights of labour migrants in Southeast Asia. By expanding our understanding of the possibilities for democratisation within the region and contributing to theoretical developments on the relationship between state and civil society, this research will also contribute to the national interest in influencing institutional reform and democratic transition in Asia. Read 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
The origins and trajectory of secularism in modern Indonesian politics. This reseach will provide both historical perspective and contemporary analysis of the vexed problem of secularism in Indonesian politics. It will provide a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of the secularist bent in Indonesian political history and thinking, and will assist commentators, scholars and policy makers better to appreciate Indonesia's continuing struggle to create, construct and maintain a secularis ....The origins and trajectory of secularism in modern Indonesian politics. This reseach will provide both historical perspective and contemporary analysis of the vexed problem of secularism in Indonesian politics. It will provide a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of the secularist bent in Indonesian political history and thinking, and will assist commentators, scholars and policy makers better to appreciate Indonesia's continuing struggle to create, construct and maintain a secularist polity. Read moreRead less
Province, Nation, Empire: France, 1871-1940. This project will deepen understanding of structures of political, strategic and economic power by providing insight into the dynamics of regionalist, nationalist and internationalist ideologies through study of the world's second largest overseas empire. It examines the role of non-state initiatives and pressures, while also investigating the colonial origins of contemporary globalisation. It will shed light, in particular, on the post-colonial heri ....Province, Nation, Empire: France, 1871-1940. This project will deepen understanding of structures of political, strategic and economic power by providing insight into the dynamics of regionalist, nationalist and internationalist ideologies through study of the world's second largest overseas empire. It examines the role of non-state initiatives and pressures, while also investigating the colonial origins of contemporary globalisation. It will shed light, in particular, on the post-colonial heritage of actions in countries of the Asia-Pacific region that were French colonies or that remain French overseas outposts.Read moreRead less
Contesting the sea: maritime territoriality in the Indonesian archipelago since 1850. This project will contribute to a deeper understanding of the seas that Australia shares with Indonesia. It will give policymakers and the general public a historical perspective on many questions related to maritime territoriality that concern Australia such as why the sea has become an important part of Indonesia's national identity, the impact that the drawing of boundaries in the Arafura and Timor seas has ....Contesting the sea: maritime territoriality in the Indonesian archipelago since 1850. This project will contribute to a deeper understanding of the seas that Australia shares with Indonesia. It will give policymakers and the general public a historical perspective on many questions related to maritime territoriality that concern Australia such as why the sea has become an important part of Indonesia's national identity, the impact that the drawing of boundaries in the Arafura and Timor seas has had on peoples who previously moved about freely in these waters, and why the Indonesian government has had so little control over what goes on within its maritime territory. The project will shed light on the tensions between Australia and Indonesia concerning the seas they share and lay the foundation for greater cooperation.
Read moreRead less
The Underdevelopment of Malaita Province and its Relevance to the Current Crisis in the Solomon Islands. Australia's rationale for the 2003 intervention in Solomon Islands was to stop this 'failed state' becoming a haven for crime, terrorism, and drug and gun running. Australia has committed an estimated $A40 to $A45 million per year for the rehabilitation of the Solomon Islands over the next decade. Malaitans, one of the two sides in a civil war, are the largest, most influential island group i ....The Underdevelopment of Malaita Province and its Relevance to the Current Crisis in the Solomon Islands. Australia's rationale for the 2003 intervention in Solomon Islands was to stop this 'failed state' becoming a haven for crime, terrorism, and drug and gun running. Australia has committed an estimated $A40 to $A45 million per year for the rehabilitation of the Solomon Islands over the next decade. Malaitans, one of the two sides in a civil war, are the largest, most influential island group in the nation, but have not received development infrastructure commensurate with their level of importance. Developing a more nuanced and culturally and historically grounded understanding of Malaita will aid the national reconstruction process, and serve as a template for handling similar problems in the Pacific Islands in the future.Read moreRead less
The idea of Indonesia: a history. This project seeks to discover the origins of the idea of Indonesia in the mid-nineteenth century and to explore its trajectory through to the present time, with particular reference to the fate of the idea and the various manifestations it has taken since the proclamation of the Republic of Indonesia in 1945. The outcome will be a monograph which will provide essential historical context and analysis for understanding Indonesia's current travails and prospects ....The idea of Indonesia: a history. This project seeks to discover the origins of the idea of Indonesia in the mid-nineteenth century and to explore its trajectory through to the present time, with particular reference to the fate of the idea and the various manifestations it has taken since the proclamation of the Republic of Indonesia in 1945. The outcome will be a monograph which will provide essential historical context and analysis for understanding Indonesia's current travails and prospects as a unified, democratic nation state.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.
Read moreRead less