Fostering pro-environment consciousness and practice: environmentalism, environmentality and environmental education in Indonesia. This project aims to foster environmental awareness in Indonesia by investigating how some people have become environmentally aware, and by evaluating various environmental education and activism projects. This project will also identify types of education that have proven effective, analyse the reasons for their efficacy and make recommendations accordingly.
The Commercialization of Ritual and Transformation of Kinship in Urban China. This project analyses transformations in the practice of kinship in urban China by examining the commercial enterprises that conduct funerals and weddings. Through a focus on the imagination of kinship performed in these rituals, it will address major scholarly debates on three topics: the relationship between urbanisation and practices of kinship; the wider social ramifications of the commercialisation of ritual; and ....The Commercialization of Ritual and Transformation of Kinship in Urban China. This project analyses transformations in the practice of kinship in urban China by examining the commercial enterprises that conduct funerals and weddings. Through a focus on the imagination of kinship performed in these rituals, it will address major scholarly debates on three topics: the relationship between urbanisation and practices of kinship; the wider social ramifications of the commercialisation of ritual; and how to theorise Chinese modernity. In addition to contributing to theoretical debates, the project will make a major empirical contribution to China studies by providing the first systematic depiction of contemporary urban funerals.Read moreRead less
Cultural values, birth and parenting: Reproductive health and Lao socialism. This project aims to provide an anthropology of procreation and parenting through ethnography of the Government of Laos’ Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health rollout as well as everyday reproduction in rural and remote Laos. It expects to generate new knowledge of core values in Laos, including those underpinning official treatment of children as human capital, difference as deprivation, and mother-and-chil ....Cultural values, birth and parenting: Reproductive health and Lao socialism. This project aims to provide an anthropology of procreation and parenting through ethnography of the Government of Laos’ Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health rollout as well as everyday reproduction in rural and remote Laos. It expects to generate new knowledge of core values in Laos, including those underpinning official treatment of children as human capital, difference as deprivation, and mother-and-child biomedical care as universal, as well as the (counter-)values lived in rural and remote practices, knowledge and sentiments. Anticipated benefits include advanced understandings of Lao culture and society, socialism as it articulates with international health and economic agendas, and the anthropology of human flourishing.Read moreRead less
The application and consequences of e-governance for India’s fight against urban poverty. This project studies the deployment of biometric registration and social data bases for the delivery of welfare in India. It examines how social processes, local cultures and survival strategies shape these initiatives. What can be learned from the implementation phase of these path-finding social security schemes in third world conditions?
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100388
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,040.00
Summary
Ethnicity and Assimilation in China: The Case of the Monguor in Tibet. China is currently addressing many issues associated with issues of minority cultural autonomy and ethnic differences. This project will explore the ongoing assimilation of the Monguor, an ethnic minority group in Tibet. It seeks to fill an important gap in our knowledge of ethnic tensions, autonomy and assimilation in contemporary China. Ethnographic fieldwork and discourse analysis of texts in Tibetan will be used to invest ....Ethnicity and Assimilation in China: The Case of the Monguor in Tibet. China is currently addressing many issues associated with issues of minority cultural autonomy and ethnic differences. This project will explore the ongoing assimilation of the Monguor, an ethnic minority group in Tibet. It seeks to fill an important gap in our knowledge of ethnic tensions, autonomy and assimilation in contemporary China. Ethnographic fieldwork and discourse analysis of texts in Tibetan will be used to investigate the impact of state and ethno-national assimilationist projects on ethnic minorities in China. This new analysis of China's ethnic dynamics and their geopolitical consequences is designed to strengthen our understanding of the region.Read moreRead less
A Multispecies Anthropological Approach to Influenza. Influenza-type viruses currently pose a considerable threat to humanity, as well as to both domestic and wild animals. This project aims to address a significant gap in our knowledge about cultural perceptions towards influenza across different species, particularly horse flu. Through multispecies anthropology, planned outcomes are to gain a greater understanding of cross-species medical knowledge, including insights into cultural heritage, b ....A Multispecies Anthropological Approach to Influenza. Influenza-type viruses currently pose a considerable threat to humanity, as well as to both domestic and wild animals. This project aims to address a significant gap in our knowledge about cultural perceptions towards influenza across different species, particularly horse flu. Through multispecies anthropology, planned outcomes are to gain a greater understanding of cross-species medical knowledge, including insights into cultural heritage, biodiversity and disease resilience through an integrated socio-cultural-ecological approach. Benefits of these new insights into multi-species dynamics will be a greater understanding of viral spread and Mongolian pastoral health practices that may be employed in the prevention of influenza.Read moreRead less
Building India: Religion, craft and infrastructure in contemporary Asia. This project aims to show how Hinduism and the god Vishwakarma—literally, Maker of the Universe—frame and propel the infrastructural systems key to India’s rise as a 21st century economic powerhouse. The project will explore the unprecedented growth of Vishwakarma worship across India’s infrastructural and business enterprise sectors, and its role in mobilising a creative class of professionals. It will also investigate its ....Building India: Religion, craft and infrastructure in contemporary Asia. This project aims to show how Hinduism and the god Vishwakarma—literally, Maker of the Universe—frame and propel the infrastructural systems key to India’s rise as a 21st century economic powerhouse. The project will explore the unprecedented growth of Vishwakarma worship across India’s infrastructural and business enterprise sectors, and its role in mobilising a creative class of professionals. It will also investigate its role in instilling a spirit of craftsmanship among workers in Prime Minister Modi’s Make-in-India campaign. The project aims to deepen Australian understanding of Asian religion and economy as it seeks to navigate trade and investment opportunities in Asia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100622
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,756.00
Summary
Welfare entrepreneurs and paradoxes of social control in rural China. This project aims to examine how non-state welfare systems run by local private entrepreneurs affect power relationships in contemporary rural China. Combining humanistic and social science approaches, the project expects to generate new knowledge about how welfare policies and practices interact with or develop alongside institutions of social control. Expected research outcomes include new empirical data on informal politica ....Welfare entrepreneurs and paradoxes of social control in rural China. This project aims to examine how non-state welfare systems run by local private entrepreneurs affect power relationships in contemporary rural China. Combining humanistic and social science approaches, the project expects to generate new knowledge about how welfare policies and practices interact with or develop alongside institutions of social control. Expected research outcomes include new empirical data on informal political processes and institutional development in post-Socialist economies. This will enhance the basis for scholarly theory and provide commercial and governmental organisations with the information and conceptual tools to accurately assess the priorities of their Chinese partners, competitors, or counterparts.Read moreRead less
Business-Local State Relationships in China. This project will ethnographically examine the evolving institutions of Chinese capitalism through a focus on business-government interactions in three mid-sized factories. At each site, approval has been obtained for in-depth research access. The project will lead to a book and a series of articles about the evolving policy environment in which local governments interact with entrepreneurs and the counter-strategies entrepreneurs adopt. Debates about ....Business-Local State Relationships in China. This project will ethnographically examine the evolving institutions of Chinese capitalism through a focus on business-government interactions in three mid-sized factories. At each site, approval has been obtained for in-depth research access. The project will lead to a book and a series of articles about the evolving policy environment in which local governments interact with entrepreneurs and the counter-strategies entrepreneurs adopt. Debates about the emergence of the rule of law in China will be addressed.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100559
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,109.00
Summary
People smuggling in Indonesia: causes, pathways and responses . This project investigates political, economic and legal aspects of people smuggling from Indonesia to Australia. Over the last decade, people smuggling networks have grown substantially due to rising demand among asylum seekers and other migrants. Despite prevention campaigns and the criminalisation of people smuggling in Indonesia in 2011, people smuggling networks remain resilient and resistant to anti-people smuggling law enforce ....People smuggling in Indonesia: causes, pathways and responses . This project investigates political, economic and legal aspects of people smuggling from Indonesia to Australia. Over the last decade, people smuggling networks have grown substantially due to rising demand among asylum seekers and other migrants. Despite prevention campaigns and the criminalisation of people smuggling in Indonesia in 2011, people smuggling networks remain resilient and resistant to anti-people smuggling law enforcement. The project produces insights into the embeddedness of people smuggling in illicit local, regional and transnational economies and will develop alternative solutions to curb people smuggling from Indonesia, solutions that are consistent with Australia's obligations in refugee protection under international law.Read moreRead less