HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF WORLD POLITICS. Rights politics played a central role in the international changes that occurred at Westphalia (1648), in the Age of Revolutions (1776-1848), with decolonisation (1950s-1960s), and in the aftermath of the Cold War. Yet the literature on human rights and international relations has failed to consider the impact of rights politics over the longue duree. This project systematically examines how, and to what extent, rights politics has transform ....HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF WORLD POLITICS. Rights politics played a central role in the international changes that occurred at Westphalia (1648), in the Age of Revolutions (1776-1848), with decolonisation (1950s-1960s), and in the aftermath of the Cold War. Yet the literature on human rights and international relations has failed to consider the impact of rights politics over the longue duree. This project systematically examines how, and to what extent, rights politics has transformed the international system since the seventeenth century to the present era. It will generate a series of articles, a single-authored book, and an edited volume.Read moreRead less
The uneasy alliance between democracy and justice. This project will make a significant contribution to the understanding of our commitment to democratic values and practices, and what it entails for our local, regional and international obligations. It will directly address the challenge of maintaining social cohesion in an era of rapid social, economic and political change. And it will offer a fresh perspective on important public debates to do with Australian national identity and the relatio ....The uneasy alliance between democracy and justice. This project will make a significant contribution to the understanding of our commitment to democratic values and practices, and what it entails for our local, regional and international obligations. It will directly address the challenge of maintaining social cohesion in an era of rapid social, economic and political change. And it will offer a fresh perspective on important public debates to do with Australian national identity and the relation between democratic rights and individual responsibility. The project will also contribute to helping maintain and develop Australian research excellence and innovation in the field of political philosophy.Read moreRead less
The Cartography of Peace: Security Zones, Colour Codes and Everyday Life. This project investigates the impacts of security mapping and the use of specific color-codes by United Nations peacekeeping operations when assessing risks. It will for the first time trace the origins of United Nations security mapping practices and compare key case studies: Afghanistan (green zone), Somalia (white zone), South Sudan and Kenya (blue zones) and Haiti (red and yellow zones). Expected outcomes include bette ....The Cartography of Peace: Security Zones, Colour Codes and Everyday Life. This project investigates the impacts of security mapping and the use of specific color-codes by United Nations peacekeeping operations when assessing risks. It will for the first time trace the origins of United Nations security mapping practices and compare key case studies: Afghanistan (green zone), Somalia (white zone), South Sudan and Kenya (blue zones) and Haiti (red and yellow zones). Expected outcomes include better understanding of how policy-makers assess risks on the ground, how security maps are drafted and modified across time, as well as an understanding of the meanings given to specific color-codes. The findings expect to benefit Australian and other policy makers seeking to design better security interventions.Read moreRead less
Remaking rural China. This project aims to analyse the nature and impacts of the restructuring of China’s agriculture and rural society. New data collected in three provinces will enable in-depth analysis of China’s political and administrative system, the nature of agrarian change in rural China, and the pace of agricultural restructuring. The project design will strengthen international, domestic and disciplinary collaboration on research into food security and urbanisation. The analysis and ....Remaking rural China. This project aims to analyse the nature and impacts of the restructuring of China’s agriculture and rural society. New data collected in three provinces will enable in-depth analysis of China’s political and administrative system, the nature of agrarian change in rural China, and the pace of agricultural restructuring. The project design will strengthen international, domestic and disciplinary collaboration on research into food security and urbanisation. The analysis and expected outcomes have the potential to inform Australia’s agricultural trade relationship with China.Read moreRead less
Securing Freedom. Political Speech in Australia. This project will strengthen Australians' ability to secure their own freedom through enhancing and maintaining a stronger civic culture. Political speech is vital to the health of Australian democracy. By considering political speech in practice, this project will show the wide extent of political freedoms and thus democratic practice in Australia today. It will also outline some areas where the freedom may be at risk. In an era where political f ....Securing Freedom. Political Speech in Australia. This project will strengthen Australians' ability to secure their own freedom through enhancing and maintaining a stronger civic culture. Political speech is vital to the health of Australian democracy. By considering political speech in practice, this project will show the wide extent of political freedoms and thus democratic practice in Australia today. It will also outline some areas where the freedom may be at risk. In an era where political freedoms can be perceived to be at risk due to the need to ensure national security, this project will harmonise and reconcile national security needs with the democratic values of Australian society.Read moreRead less
A naturalistic approach to rights, norms and practices of freedom. We offer a naturalistic account of the dynamic relations between rights, norms and freedom. Case studies of the emergence of new rights for women and indigenous peoples will show how this approach generates new ways of understanding human rights, cultural norms and the interactions between them. Further outcomes will include a multidimensional approach to moral cosmopolitanism which provides a distinctive pluralistic alternativ ....A naturalistic approach to rights, norms and practices of freedom. We offer a naturalistic account of the dynamic relations between rights, norms and freedom. Case studies of the emergence of new rights for women and indigenous peoples will show how this approach generates new ways of understanding human rights, cultural norms and the interactions between them. Further outcomes will include a multidimensional approach to moral cosmopolitanism which provides a distinctive pluralistic alternative to current theories.Read moreRead less
Accountability for past human rights violations in South Asia. This project aims to explain South Asian responses to requests seeking accountability for violations of human rights. State responses are variable and often inconsistent with global norms which hold that perpetrators of violations should be held accountable for their actions. This project will develop a theoretically-informed empirical explanation for these responses. Expected benefits include an enhanced evidence base to inform Aust ....Accountability for past human rights violations in South Asia. This project aims to explain South Asian responses to requests seeking accountability for violations of human rights. State responses are variable and often inconsistent with global norms which hold that perpetrators of violations should be held accountable for their actions. This project will develop a theoretically-informed empirical explanation for these responses. Expected benefits include an enhanced evidence base to inform Australian policymakers, international agencies and non-profit organisations seeking to address global norms of human rights in South Asia.Read moreRead less
The Politics of Rights: Australia in Comparative Perspective. Australia tends to be left out of comparative rights studies, and accounts of rights protection tend to be focused upon courts and legal rights. There is no comparative study available that shows how well Australia protects rights, nor does there exist a detailed national study that shows how rights are protected in Australia by parliamentary means and the political mediation of international rights norms. This project will deliver bo ....The Politics of Rights: Australia in Comparative Perspective. Australia tends to be left out of comparative rights studies, and accounts of rights protection tend to be focused upon courts and legal rights. There is no comparative study available that shows how well Australia protects rights, nor does there exist a detailed national study that shows how rights are protected in Australia by parliamentary means and the political mediation of international rights norms. This project will deliver both, enabling a fuller understanding of Australian rights protection. It will also boost comparative knowledge of rights protection via political means. Read moreRead less
Autonomy, Liberalism and the Right to Culture. The question of whether or on what terms cultural diversity may be reconciled with liberal citizenship and national identity is among the most pressing issues confronting liberal democracies today. Australia, long committed to multiculturalism, faces this challenge daily in its law- and policy-making. This project tackles this question by offering a new way of thinking about the place and import of the core liberal value of individual autonomy. Now ....Autonomy, Liberalism and the Right to Culture. The question of whether or on what terms cultural diversity may be reconciled with liberal citizenship and national identity is among the most pressing issues confronting liberal democracies today. Australia, long committed to multiculturalism, faces this challenge daily in its law- and policy-making. This project tackles this question by offering a new way of thinking about the place and import of the core liberal value of individual autonomy. Now under considerable attack in political theory and from some groups for being "too sectarian", the project defends the importance of autonomy to liberal citizenship, while elaborating its moral and political implications for liberals and cultural minorities alike.Read moreRead less
Democracy and the Bourgeoisie: Post-Communism and the Transition to Capitalism. There is commonly perceived to be a relationship between social structure and regime type. This proposal seeks to understand the impact the type of bourgeoisie has upon the prospects for democracy. Its principal focus is contemporary Russia. In order to obtain theoretical purchase and historical perspective, the Russian experience will be compared with the effects on political development of a range of other bourgeo ....Democracy and the Bourgeoisie: Post-Communism and the Transition to Capitalism. There is commonly perceived to be a relationship between social structure and regime type. This proposal seeks to understand the impact the type of bourgeoisie has upon the prospects for democracy. Its principal focus is contemporary Russia. In order to obtain theoretical purchase and historical perspective, the Russian experience will be compared with the effects on political development of a range of other bourgeoisies, coming from the classic early industrialiser countries, the late industrialisers, a number of third world countries, and some of the post-communist states.Read moreRead less