Australian Public Policy Responses to Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Comparativist and Historical Perspectives. Furnishing the first comprehensive history of Australia's response to refugees and asylum seekers, the project will enhance our understanding of the genealogy of current Australian policy and inform debate in an area of intense concern to policy makers and the general public. The project will put the Australian response into context by comparing it with that of New Zealand and by analysi ....Australian Public Policy Responses to Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Comparativist and Historical Perspectives. Furnishing the first comprehensive history of Australia's response to refugees and asylum seekers, the project will enhance our understanding of the genealogy of current Australian policy and inform debate in an area of intense concern to policy makers and the general public. The project will put the Australian response into context by comparing it with that of New Zealand and by analysing it against the backdrop of the evolution of the international refugee regime.Read moreRead less
A study of the scholarship on Indonesia in Australia and its implications for foreign policy. This project explores Australia's scholarly engagement with Indonesia and the impact of disciplinary, political and moral influences on their interpretations and knowledge. The importance of Indonesia for Australia has never been more acute. The impact of instability in Indonesia on Australia's own security and place in the region cannot be understated. It is essential that we have the tools for interpr ....A study of the scholarship on Indonesia in Australia and its implications for foreign policy. This project explores Australia's scholarly engagement with Indonesia and the impact of disciplinary, political and moral influences on their interpretations and knowledge. The importance of Indonesia for Australia has never been more acute. The impact of instability in Indonesia on Australia's own security and place in the region cannot be understated. It is essential that we have the tools for interpreting and understanding cultural, religious and political differences. Australian scholars have a deep and lasting engagement with Indonesia. Investigation of the debates within the field of Indonesian studies will help us to interpret better the perceptions and politics informing our study.Read moreRead less
Islam and identity in Java: the violent culmination and subsequent decline of communal conflict, c. 1920- present. This project analyses for the first time the culmination of politicised and bloody conflict along lines of Islamic religious identity within Javanese society - today 100-million strong and Indonesia's largest ethnic group - and the subsequent decline and depoliticisation of those religiously defined categories, c. 1920-present. This process has left Javanese society more deeply Isla ....Islam and identity in Java: the violent culmination and subsequent decline of communal conflict, c. 1920- present. This project analyses for the first time the culmination of politicised and bloody conflict along lines of Islamic religious identity within Javanese society - today 100-million strong and Indonesia's largest ethnic group - and the subsequent decline and depoliticisation of those religiously defined categories, c. 1920-present. This process has left Javanese society more deeply Islamised than at any time in its history. But conflicting categories might, in theory, be repoliticised. The 2004 election campaign will be crucial for this analysis. The resultant book will be the last of three analysing the Islamisation of the Javanese from the 14th century to the present.
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The Indonesian Killings of 1965-1966. This project analyses the immediate and long-term causes of the killing of perhaps 500,000 communists and others in Indonesia between October 1965 and March 1966. The project examines newly available archival and memoir material, as well as conducting fresh interviews, to explain the respective roles of the Indonesian armed forces, military-sponsored and independent militias, and civilian viglantes in initiating and carrying out the killings. The project ....The Indonesian Killings of 1965-1966. This project analyses the immediate and long-term causes of the killing of perhaps 500,000 communists and others in Indonesia between October 1965 and March 1966. The project examines newly available archival and memoir material, as well as conducting fresh interviews, to explain the respective roles of the Indonesian armed forces, military-sponsored and independent militias, and civilian viglantes in initiating and carrying out the killings. The project sets this detailed examination in the context of the extreme political tension in Indonesia in the early 1960s and more-deeply rooted patterns of violence in Indonesian society.Read moreRead less
State, War and Revolution in Vietnam, 1945-1954. The explosive experience of state formation, war and revolution combining together, thought by many to have vanished along with colonialism and the Cold War, now threatens to engulf the Middle East and/or Central Asia, much as it did Indochina fifty years ago. The largely untold story of Vietnam's 'Anti-French Resistance' in 1945-1954 offers plenty of policy warnings, if no prescriptions. Notably, those who argue that Australia's interests overs ....State, War and Revolution in Vietnam, 1945-1954. The explosive experience of state formation, war and revolution combining together, thought by many to have vanished along with colonialism and the Cold War, now threatens to engulf the Middle East and/or Central Asia, much as it did Indochina fifty years ago. The largely untold story of Vietnam's 'Anti-French Resistance' in 1945-1954 offers plenty of policy warnings, if no prescriptions. Notably, those who argue that Australia's interests overseas can be safeguarded by technology and big-power alliances, ignoring human grievances, contentious politics, mass movements and social upheavals, put future generations at risk.Read moreRead less
The Post-Mao Transition in China: From the Ashes of Revolution toward Reform, 1976-1978. The project contributes to national benefit by deepening understanding of a regional powerhouse, the People's Republic of China. While the study is historical, it has relevance for Australia's contemporary dealings with China since key aspects of Chinese leadership politics such as the tension between formal and informal authority derive from the period under examination. As such it furthers the national res ....The Post-Mao Transition in China: From the Ashes of Revolution toward Reform, 1976-1978. The project contributes to national benefit by deepening understanding of a regional powerhouse, the People's Republic of China. While the study is historical, it has relevance for Australia's contemporary dealings with China since key aspects of Chinese leadership politics such as the tension between formal and informal authority derive from the period under examination. As such it furthers the national research priority of 'Understanding our region and the world'. In addition, the study will further enhance the reputation of Australian scholarship on China, thus sustaining its world standing as second only to that of the United States. Read moreRead less
Economics, politics and culture in early post-independence Indonesia. Recent events in East Timor have highlighted the problems faced by new states after the initial honeymoon following independence is over. By examining the experience of Indonesia in the 1950s from the longer perspective of the 21st century, this project aims to better understand the significance of apparently simple but highly significant decisions made in the first years after decolonization and comparable major regime chang ....Economics, politics and culture in early post-independence Indonesia. Recent events in East Timor have highlighted the problems faced by new states after the initial honeymoon following independence is over. By examining the experience of Indonesia in the 1950s from the longer perspective of the 21st century, this project aims to better understand the significance of apparently simple but highly significant decisions made in the first years after decolonization and comparable major regime changes.Read moreRead less