Being Muslim in Eastern Indonesia: practice, politics and cultural diversity. The project contributes to Safeguarding Australia through improved understanding of Muslim communities in eastern Indonesia and training young scholars in this field. Our studies of island society and regional Islamic organisations offer ethnographically informed comparative perspectives on Islamic cultural diversity across eastern Indonesia, including current changes in religious practice and governance. Insights deve ....Being Muslim in Eastern Indonesia: practice, politics and cultural diversity. The project contributes to Safeguarding Australia through improved understanding of Muslim communities in eastern Indonesia and training young scholars in this field. Our studies of island society and regional Islamic organisations offer ethnographically informed comparative perspectives on Islamic cultural diversity across eastern Indonesia, including current changes in religious practice and governance. Insights developed will enable Australia to anticipate future directions of socio-political transformation in Indonesia,and evaluate prospects for democratization, economic stability and human security. In a region that remains a priority for Australian development our research will improve understanding of a key driver of social life.Read moreRead less
Changing patterns of migration from Afghanistan with implications for Australia. As a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, a major location for the resettlement of refugees and a major player in the international system with a stated commitment to humanitarian issues, Australia is well placed to play a lead role in promoting more effective solutions to the plight of refugees. This study is designed to contribute to that objective through research of one of the world's most important refugee g ....Changing patterns of migration from Afghanistan with implications for Australia. As a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, a major location for the resettlement of refugees and a major player in the international system with a stated commitment to humanitarian issues, Australia is well placed to play a lead role in promoting more effective solutions to the plight of refugees. This study is designed to contribute to that objective through research of one of the world's most important refugee groups, the Afghans. It will also provide a better understanding of the security issues involved in refugee migration.Read moreRead less
Ethnic, Religious and Social Bases of Community in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. This project will promote understanding of a fast developing region of Vietnam in which large amounts of Australian development aid resources have been spent and with which Australian companies have growing trade and investment activities. The Mekong delta is a multicultural and religiously diverse area, very different from other parts of the country. Yet we know very little about why the delta is so economically pro ....Ethnic, Religious and Social Bases of Community in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. This project will promote understanding of a fast developing region of Vietnam in which large amounts of Australian development aid resources have been spent and with which Australian companies have growing trade and investment activities. The Mekong delta is a multicultural and religiously diverse area, very different from other parts of the country. Yet we know very little about why the delta is so economically productive and why there has been little conflict between its many ethnic and religious groups. This project will advance Australia's reputation as a world leader in social scientific research on Vietnam.Read moreRead less
Being Asian in Australia and the United States: Analysing Ethnic Representations in Visual Arts, Popular Culture, Academia and Community Festivals. Australia's engagement with Asia and North America remains central to our national security and economic development. This research offers a unique window into the experiences and sensibilities of a constituency within the Australian population which has been relatively unacknowledged in the official domain. A better understanding about Asians in Aus ....Being Asian in Australia and the United States: Analysing Ethnic Representations in Visual Arts, Popular Culture, Academia and Community Festivals. Australia's engagement with Asia and North America remains central to our national security and economic development. This research offers a unique window into the experiences and sensibilities of a constituency within the Australian population which has been relatively unacknowledged in the official domain. A better understanding about Asians in Australia and the US will enhance Australia's capacity to interpret itself to Asia and North America. Information about transnational Asian communities is an important means of improving our ability to respond to changing conditions within Australia and the region at large.Read moreRead less
The Other Within: Visual Culture through Indigenous, tribal, minority,"subaltern" and multicultural displays in Asia-Pacific museums today. The reseach project will analyse and assess current practice and developing modes of museum representation and inclusion in the changing societies of the Asia-Pacific. Comparative research will be undertaken into Indigenous, tribal, minority, 'subaltern' and multicultural displays in eight museums and four cultural festivals. The research will focus on the ....The Other Within: Visual Culture through Indigenous, tribal, minority,"subaltern" and multicultural displays in Asia-Pacific museums today. The reseach project will analyse and assess current practice and developing modes of museum representation and inclusion in the changing societies of the Asia-Pacific. Comparative research will be undertaken into Indigenous, tribal, minority, 'subaltern' and multicultural displays in eight museums and four cultural festivals. The research will focus on the Industry Partner, the National Museum of Australia. It will develop a model for a non-Eurocentric approach. It will have practical outcomes for all the Investigators in consolidating networks, and producing colloquia, exhibitions, publications and a multimedia presentation.Read moreRead less
Sustainable Development, Cultural Diversity, and Global Transformations: An Ethnography of Agricultural and Environmental Practices in East Timor. Civil unrest, low productivity, and environmental degradation in East Timor, the Solomon Islands, PNG, Nauru, and Indonesia, highlight the new challenges for international development policy. By providing culturally specific analyses of development processes and by advancing new policy directions, the study will enhance the capacities of Australian NG ....Sustainable Development, Cultural Diversity, and Global Transformations: An Ethnography of Agricultural and Environmental Practices in East Timor. Civil unrest, low productivity, and environmental degradation in East Timor, the Solomon Islands, PNG, Nauru, and Indonesia, highlight the new challenges for international development policy. By providing culturally specific analyses of development processes and by advancing new policy directions, the study will enhance the capacities of Australian NGOs, as well as international NGOs with Australian offices, government agencies and Indigenous communities, effectively to tackle acute poverty and environmental degradation in our region. These issues are increasingly pertinent to Australia.Read moreRead less
Cross-cultural translations: initiating Australian encounters with post colonial Korean art and national identity. The project analyses the complex problems of exhibiting the art of other cultures to both insiders and outsiders. It develops a new theoretical approach to understanding the complexities of cross-cultural translation, the dynamics of cross-cultural receptions, and the concepts of otherness and identity in visual arts. In translating and presenting the rich, diverse and vibrant art o ....Cross-cultural translations: initiating Australian encounters with post colonial Korean art and national identity. The project analyses the complex problems of exhibiting the art of other cultures to both insiders and outsiders. It develops a new theoretical approach to understanding the complexities of cross-cultural translation, the dynamics of cross-cultural receptions, and the concepts of otherness and identity in visual arts. In translating and presenting the rich, diverse and vibrant art of post-1945 Korea in an art historically important yet accessible way, first to culturally unfamiliar Australians, then to other Asians and finally to Koreans themselves, a new model for exhibiting other cultures will be developed.Read moreRead less