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
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 Peace Process in Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesia is critical to Australia's security, economic and strategic interests. This study of the Aceh peace process will aid our understanding of how Indonesia is grappling with two issues crucial for its long-term stability: i) management of ethnic and separatist conflicts, and ii) proliferation of local corruption. The study will interest Australian policy-makers, businesspeople and others concerned with Indonesia. It will be valuable to the overseas dev ....The Peace Process in Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesia is critical to Australia's security, economic and strategic interests. This study of the Aceh peace process will aid our understanding of how Indonesia is grappling with two issues crucial for its long-term stability: i) management of ethnic and separatist conflicts, and ii) proliferation of local corruption. The study will interest Australian policy-makers, businesspeople and others concerned with Indonesia. It will be valuable to the overseas development community, especially the many agencies involved in post-tsunami reconstruction assistance in Aceh. Finally, the project will enhance Australia's reputation as a source of high quality research on Indonesia and on armed conflicts and peace processes in the Asia-Pacific.Read moreRead less
Politics of land in Vietnam, late 1950s-1990s. The project is three-fold: (1) complete an in-depth analysis of the politics of land in Vietnam during the second half of the 20th century, (2) through this analysis contribute to a broader understanding of Vietnam's political system, and (3) show the implications of this Vietnam case for comprehending how unorganized, everyday kinds of activity in an authoritarian political system can contribute to significant shifts in national policies. Expected ....Politics of land in Vietnam, late 1950s-1990s. The project is three-fold: (1) complete an in-depth analysis of the politics of land in Vietnam during the second half of the 20th century, (2) through this analysis contribute to a broader understanding of Vietnam's political system, and (3) show the implications of this Vietnam case for comprehending how unorganized, everyday kinds of activity in an authoritarian political system can contribute to significant shifts in national policies. Expected outcomes include a book on agricultural collectivization and decollectivization in Vietnam, a PhD dissertation on land reform in the southern half of the country, and journal articles.Read moreRead less
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
Improving effectiveness of Australian aid to the island-Pacific. Improving the effectiveness of aid to the island Pacific so as to secure peace and prosperity within our immediate neighbourhood is in Australia's own national interest. This research investigates issues of state functioning and state failure with a view to improving the effectiveness of external interventions and of bolstering state capacity in the South Pacific. It is now widely acknowledged that ?failed states? can generate ref ....Improving effectiveness of Australian aid to the island-Pacific. Improving the effectiveness of aid to the island Pacific so as to secure peace and prosperity within our immediate neighbourhood is in Australia's own national interest. This research investigates issues of state functioning and state failure with a view to improving the effectiveness of external interventions and of bolstering state capacity in the South Pacific. It is now widely acknowledged that ?failed states? can generate refugee flows and create havens for organised crime or terrorist groups, thus becoming a threat to neighbouring states. Such cross-border spillovers have major implications for Australia's national security and have been the primary rationale for the recent interventions into Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.Read moreRead less
Public Political Criticism in Contemporary Vietnam. This study will enhance Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment by expanding its comprehension of the political system in Vietnam, a prominent Asian neighbor. The outcomes will benefit Australian diplomats, investors, business people, journalists, aid donors, and universities with interests and programs in the region. As a major work on Vietnam that is also comparative and engages political science ....Public Political Criticism in Contemporary Vietnam. This study will enhance Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment by expanding its comprehension of the political system in Vietnam, a prominent Asian neighbor. The outcomes will benefit Australian diplomats, investors, business people, journalists, aid donors, and universities with interests and programs in the region. As a major work on Vietnam that is also comparative and engages political science literature on authoritarian regimes and political movements, this project also augments Australia's reputation as a source of high quality research on Asian countries.Read moreRead less
LANGUAGES OF SECURITY IN THE ASIAN REGION AND AUSTRALIA. Recognising that the challenge of 'safeguarding Australia' must take account of Australia's regional environment, the project will explore the different vocabulary, concepts, axioms and norms relating to security issues in Asian societies and Australia. It will consider the way different security understandings can help to explain divergent state and non-state action in approaches to defence matters as well as terrorism and transnational ....LANGUAGES OF SECURITY IN THE ASIAN REGION AND AUSTRALIA. Recognising that the challenge of 'safeguarding Australia' must take account of Australia's regional environment, the project will explore the different vocabulary, concepts, axioms and norms relating to security issues in Asian societies and Australia. It will consider the way different security understandings can help to explain divergent state and non-state action in approaches to defence matters as well as terrorism and transnational crime. Collaboration with the Industry Partner will assist the Project to be developed (e.g. in the identification of key concepts) and communicated in a way that will be of maximum use to Australian government and its agencies.Read moreRead less
Political party financing and democratic consolidation in Indonesia. As Australia's vast neighbour to the north, Indonesia, is of critical importance to Australian national interests. Particularly essential in this regard is the stability of Indonesia's young democracy, which is increasingly threatened by the widespread perception that party politics are contaminated by corrupt, greedy and self-centred politicians. This sentiment is largely fuelled by complaints about questionable fundraising pr ....Political party financing and democratic consolidation in Indonesia. As Australia's vast neighbour to the north, Indonesia, is of critical importance to Australian national interests. Particularly essential in this regard is the stability of Indonesia's young democracy, which is increasingly threatened by the widespread perception that party politics are contaminated by corrupt, greedy and self-centred politicians. This sentiment is largely fuelled by complaints about questionable fundraising practices of political parties. Accordingly, this study will be of great interest to Australian policy-makers, aid officials and businesses that wish to address the deficiencies in Indonesia's political system through political and economic cooperation programs.Read moreRead less
Islam, Nationalism and Secession in Aceh, Indonesia. This project will produce the first in-depth analysis of the secessionist movement in Aceh, Indonesia, and of attempts to resolve the long-running violent conflict in that territory. By doing so, it will contribute to our understanding of processes of national disintegration and reintegration in Indonesia. The project will also contribute to broader theoretical debates in political science and related disciplines about the genesis and developm ....Islam, Nationalism and Secession in Aceh, Indonesia. This project will produce the first in-depth analysis of the secessionist movement in Aceh, Indonesia, and of attempts to resolve the long-running violent conflict in that territory. By doing so, it will contribute to our understanding of processes of national disintegration and reintegration in Indonesia. The project will also contribute to broader theoretical debates in political science and related disciplines about the genesis and development of nationalism, especially in Islamic societies, and on how national identity and violent separatist conflicts may be transformed by peace processes and autonomy arrangements.Read moreRead less