RUSSIA (THE SOVIET UNION) AND AUSTRALIA IN THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES. Revitalize Australian Russian studies by bringing in internationally recognized leadership and cutting-edge projects; making the University of Melbourne's Russian centre not just the southern hemisphere leader in this field but also a significant player worldwide.
The International History of Cosmopolitanism and Nationalism, 1814-1822. We cannot understand our entrapment in nationalism until we unravel the history of its complex inter-relationship with cosmopolitanism. This project excavates an understanding of politics and community that offers alternatives to the current global impasse. The moment in the past I will study was the origin of our present predicament, namely the inescapability of nationalism for the cosmopolitan and of cosmopolitanism for t ....The International History of Cosmopolitanism and Nationalism, 1814-1822. We cannot understand our entrapment in nationalism until we unravel the history of its complex inter-relationship with cosmopolitanism. This project excavates an understanding of politics and community that offers alternatives to the current global impasse. The moment in the past I will study was the origin of our present predicament, namely the inescapability of nationalism for the cosmopolitan and of cosmopolitanism for the nationalist. This project will consolidate the significance of Australian scholarship to a field that is critical to understanding our choices and destinies in a global society. It will make Australia the headquarters of a new international history that investigates the relevance of the past to policy-making.Read moreRead less
From France to Europe: The Shift from Nationalism in French Discourse, 1900-1950. The aim of the project is to analyse a shift from France to Europe in French political rhetoric. The Revolution had inscribed Enlightenment ideals on terms like France and nation. After World War I, they no longer carried these ideals. For some citizens, Europe took them on. For others, Europe opened the possibility of inscribing new values on the polity. The project seeks to measure the extent of this shift and it ....From France to Europe: The Shift from Nationalism in French Discourse, 1900-1950. The aim of the project is to analyse a shift from France to Europe in French political rhetoric. The Revolution had inscribed Enlightenment ideals on terms like France and nation. After World War I, they no longer carried these ideals. For some citizens, Europe took them on. For others, Europe opened the possibility of inscribing new values on the polity. The project seeks to measure the extent of this shift and its contribution to the new mentality which made possible the construction of Europe. The result will be a major innovation in the way the construction of Europe is understood.Read moreRead less
White man's country and the critics: a trans-national history. The project will offer new understandings of the history of White Australia through an investigation of the idea of the ?white man's country? as a defensive response to a changing world order. It will investigate the historical emergence of the ?white man? as a new mode of identitication in the context of the trans-national circulation of knowledge especially between Australia and America. It will investigate the ways in which the ra ....White man's country and the critics: a trans-national history. The project will offer new understandings of the history of White Australia through an investigation of the idea of the ?white man's country? as a defensive response to a changing world order. It will investigate the historical emergence of the ?white man? as a new mode of identitication in the context of the trans-national circulation of knowledge especially between Australia and America. It will investigate the ways in which the racial identities of the federal fathers informed the project of nation-building. It will also chart opposition to the project noting the recourse of subordinated groups to international networks and organisations.Read moreRead less
The Genie in the Bottle:Science, Politics and Diplomacy in Australia's Engagement with Chemical and Biological Weapons, 1915-1995. The threat of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) is attracting increasing attention worldwide. Australia's engagement with the CBW began during the First World War. Since then, Australia has been influential in promoting CBW control regimes. However, this experience has raised many questions. This project explores Australia's historical and current response to ....The Genie in the Bottle:Science, Politics and Diplomacy in Australia's Engagement with Chemical and Biological Weapons, 1915-1995. The threat of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) is attracting increasing attention worldwide. Australia's engagement with the CBW began during the First World War. Since then, Australia has been influential in promoting CBW control regimes. However, this experience has raised many questions. This project explores Australia's historical and current response to the central issues of CBW. Using archival and contemporary sources, it analyses the interplay between science, politics and diplomacy. Combining history and political science, it assesses the implications of recent developments in CBW for Australia's role in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.Read moreRead less
Understanding the World: Domei Tsushin (United News Agency), the Japanese State and International Politics 1936 - 52. Domei tsushin (United News Agency) was arguably the most important source of overseas events for the Japanese public during the war time. A rigorous scholarly examination, however, has been yet to come. Using new materials, this project will first examine Domei's role and its relations with the state during the war, and assesses its over all impact in international politics. ....Understanding the World: Domei Tsushin (United News Agency), the Japanese State and International Politics 1936 - 52. Domei tsushin (United News Agency) was arguably the most important source of overseas events for the Japanese public during the war time. A rigorous scholarly examination, however, has been yet to come. Using new materials, this project will first examine Domei's role and its relations with the state during the war, and assesses its over all impact in international politics. Secondly, it will explore how its role, structure and relations with the state and the public changed (or unchanged) in the post-war peace time. I intend to produce a book manuscript at the end of the project.Read moreRead less
A Study of the Fulbright Program in Australia 1949-2009. This history of the Fulbright Program of educational exchange between Australia and the USA will explore a significant and undervalued aspect of the post-war relationship between the two countries. It will enhance our understanding of the sources of innovative ideas and their transfer, by investigating whether the 2600 Australian Fulbright scholars since 1949 were influential in re-orienting local research practice and public policy initia ....A Study of the Fulbright Program in Australia 1949-2009. This history of the Fulbright Program of educational exchange between Australia and the USA will explore a significant and undervalued aspect of the post-war relationship between the two countries. It will enhance our understanding of the sources of innovative ideas and their transfer, by investigating whether the 2600 Australian Fulbright scholars since 1949 were influential in re-orienting local research practice and public policy initiatives along US models. It will broaden awareness of the Fulbright Program's place in the Australian experience of globalisation, and contribute to a critical understanding of cultural diplomacy as a key feature of foreign policy.Read moreRead less
Historical Patterns of Non-Union Employee Representation in Australian Workplaces 1914-96. The project uses historical data to provide clear direction for public policy in the development of frontier technology for employment relations infrastructure at the workplace level. This infrastructure would support micro-economic reform, maximisation of workplace efficiency, the enhancement of employee job satisfaction, as well as offering means to close the representation gap that has emerged with the ....Historical Patterns of Non-Union Employee Representation in Australian Workplaces 1914-96. The project uses historical data to provide clear direction for public policy in the development of frontier technology for employment relations infrastructure at the workplace level. This infrastructure would support micro-economic reform, maximisation of workplace efficiency, the enhancement of employee job satisfaction, as well as offering means to close the representation gap that has emerged with the decline in trade union membership. By using historical data policy development will be informed by Australian experience of success and failures in this area.Read moreRead less
Historical Conflict and Reconciliation in East Asia: Media, History Wars and the Search for Regional Understanding. The relationship between Japan, China and Korea is of central importance to the future stability of our region, and of particular political and economic importance to Australia. This project will promote a deeper understanding of current tensions in the relationship between these countries, and will contribute to the practical search for resolutions to cultural and ideological dime ....Historical Conflict and Reconciliation in East Asia: Media, History Wars and the Search for Regional Understanding. The relationship between Japan, China and Korea is of central importance to the future stability of our region, and of particular political and economic importance to Australia. This project will promote a deeper understanding of current tensions in the relationship between these countries, and will contribute to the practical search for resolutions to cultural and ideological dimensions of this conflict. By addressing the relationship between changing methods of communication and contrasting images of history, the project will also contribute to the development of new theoretical approaches to the communication of historical knowledge in the twenty-first century. Read moreRead less
The Spectre of Velvet Revolution: Dissidents, International Civil Society and post-Communist Authoritarianism. The study of 'Velvet Revolution,' both as a theory and as historical events, has immense implications for Australian policymakers. As an approach to regime change that does not entail foreign military intervention, 'Velvet Revolution' offers a path for democratic transition that minimises nationalist resentment and post-revolutionary violence. As a radical challenge to undemocratic regi ....The Spectre of Velvet Revolution: Dissidents, International Civil Society and post-Communist Authoritarianism. The study of 'Velvet Revolution,' both as a theory and as historical events, has immense implications for Australian policymakers. As an approach to regime change that does not entail foreign military intervention, 'Velvet Revolution' offers a path for democratic transition that minimises nationalist resentment and post-revolutionary violence. As a radical challenge to undemocratic regimes, it also constitutes a potent alternative to militant Islamism. By illuminating the role of dissidents and international civil society as protagonists and purveyors of 'Velvet Revolution,' this project will help to clarify the conditions that have facilitated the successful spread of democratic revolution.Read moreRead less