Preaching Islam: politics, performers and publics in Indonesia. Mass preaching gatherings held by Indonesia's Muslims can draw crowds of up to two hundred thousand people, and are used by Indonesia's political constituencies, mainstream and fringe, to further their goals. An understanding of how political groupings utilise orations to further their interests will add to Australia's awareness of the political dimensions of Islam in contemporary Indonesia. Politicised preaching has repercussions f ....Preaching Islam: politics, performers and publics in Indonesia. Mass preaching gatherings held by Indonesia's Muslims can draw crowds of up to two hundred thousand people, and are used by Indonesia's political constituencies, mainstream and fringe, to further their goals. An understanding of how political groupings utilise orations to further their interests will add to Australia's awareness of the political dimensions of Islam in contemporary Indonesia. Politicised preaching has repercussions for Indonesia's internal security and political stability; this research will increase Australia's knowledge on this critical topic by focussing on orations staged in sensitive political environments: rural communities, the urban poor and army barracks.Read moreRead less
On Whose Authority? The Contest to Define Tibetan Buddhism. As our third largest trading partner, China is of immense importance to Australia, and the problem of Tibet is a contentious aspect of Australia-China relations. The presentation of a comprehensive and nuanced perspective on the subtleties of Sino-Tibetan tensions relating to the core issue of religious belief and practice will provide Australian policy-makers with key tools and insights for more effectively managing this important fore ....On Whose Authority? The Contest to Define Tibetan Buddhism. As our third largest trading partner, China is of immense importance to Australia, and the problem of Tibet is a contentious aspect of Australia-China relations. The presentation of a comprehensive and nuanced perspective on the subtleties of Sino-Tibetan tensions relating to the core issue of religious belief and practice will provide Australian policy-makers with key tools and insights for more effectively managing this important foreign policy matter, which can aid in preventing military instability in the region. The Tibet problem has ramifications for both China and India, and it is vital for Australian leaders to be equipped with the best information about it. Read moreRead less
Being Muslim in Eastern Indonesia: practice, politics and cultural diversity. The project contributes to Safeguarding Australia through improved understanding of Muslim communities in eastern Indonesia and training young scholars in this field. Our studies of island society and regional Islamic organisations offer ethnographically informed comparative perspectives on Islamic cultural diversity across eastern Indonesia, including current changes in religious practice and governance. Insights deve ....Being Muslim in Eastern Indonesia: practice, politics and cultural diversity. The project contributes to Safeguarding Australia through improved understanding of Muslim communities in eastern Indonesia and training young scholars in this field. Our studies of island society and regional Islamic organisations offer ethnographically informed comparative perspectives on Islamic cultural diversity across eastern Indonesia, including current changes in religious practice and governance. Insights developed will enable Australia to anticipate future directions of socio-political transformation in Indonesia,and evaluate prospects for democratization, economic stability and human security. In a region that remains a priority for Australian development our research will improve understanding of a key driver of social life.Read moreRead less
Autobiographical Avatars: testimony and emerging technologies of life narrative. Australian research has led to new ways of thinking about the ethical, social and political work of these autobiographical genres. This project builds on a national reputation for excellence in this scholarly field, and it promotes writing across the fields of literary studies, and creative and professional writing which are areas of particular strength at the institutional location of this project. Some case stud ....Autobiographical Avatars: testimony and emerging technologies of life narrative. Australian research has led to new ways of thinking about the ethical, social and political work of these autobiographical genres. This project builds on a national reputation for excellence in this scholarly field, and it promotes writing across the fields of literary studies, and creative and professional writing which are areas of particular strength at the institutional location of this project. Some case studies selected for this project involve people, nations and polities with which the Australian government is engaged in long-term diplomatic, political and military engagements - Iraq and Afghanistan, for example.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
Glocalisation and sub-national Islams in Indonesia: neo-traditionalism, local Islam and the commemoration of regional Islamic legacies. Australia is both directly and indirectly affected by dynamics within Indonesian Islamic society, but we have limited understanding of how Indonesian Islam maintains its local character, which is generally tolerant and peaceable, in the face of persistent globalizing forces that challenge the legitimacy of local traditions and tend to undermine healthy inter-com ....Glocalisation and sub-national Islams in Indonesia: neo-traditionalism, local Islam and the commemoration of regional Islamic legacies. Australia is both directly and indirectly affected by dynamics within Indonesian Islamic society, but we have limited understanding of how Indonesian Islam maintains its local character, which is generally tolerant and peaceable, in the face of persistent globalizing forces that challenge the legitimacy of local traditions and tend to undermine healthy inter-communal relations by promoting confrontation and intolerance. This study will make a vital contribution to our understanding of the forces that are shaping the future character of Indonesian Islam and inform how we should best engage with Indonesia though government and social initiatives, including aid, education and media activities.Read moreRead less
Kadare post Communism: Albania, the Balkans and Europe in the Work of Ismail Kadare, 1990-2008. Albanians make up a small but important segment of multicultural Australia. Through the work of Albania's greatest writer and intellectual, Ismail Kadare, we can come to a better understanding of Albanians, their history and culture, and hence of Australia as a multicultural entity. Moreover traditionally Islamic Albania, with its Ottoman history and culture, is seeking inclusion into the European Uni ....Kadare post Communism: Albania, the Balkans and Europe in the Work of Ismail Kadare, 1990-2008. Albanians make up a small but important segment of multicultural Australia. Through the work of Albania's greatest writer and intellectual, Ismail Kadare, we can come to a better understanding of Albanians, their history and culture, and hence of Australia as a multicultural entity. Moreover traditionally Islamic Albania, with its Ottoman history and culture, is seeking inclusion into the European Union, Australia's major partner in trade, tourism, education and culture. Kadare's post-communist works on the subjects of Europe, Islam, Muslims and the West, and Balkan politics and history provide a valuable lesson on the interrelationships of politics, culture and patriotism in a global context for contemporary Australia.Read moreRead less
COUNTER-MAPPING GENDER AND POLITICS: WOMEN, DEMOCRATIC RECONSTITUTION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN EAST TIMOR AND THE PHILIPPINES. This project examines counter-mappings to conventional approaches in the analysis of political and social transformations in East Timor and the Philippines. It analyses the ways in which women's political subjectivities are constituted in the complex interplay of indigenous belief systems, nation-state building, modernity, development, and the intervention of int ....COUNTER-MAPPING GENDER AND POLITICS: WOMEN, DEMOCRATIC RECONSTITUTION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN EAST TIMOR AND THE PHILIPPINES. This project examines counter-mappings to conventional approaches in the analysis of political and social transformations in East Timor and the Philippines. It analyses the ways in which women's political subjectivities are constituted in the complex interplay of indigenous belief systems, nation-state building, modernity, development, and the intervention of international organizations. How do poor women redefine and expand conventional approaches to governance, local and international security, and sustainable development? It explores the mechanisms that produce and reproduce women's empowerment and/or marginalisation with particular attention to resilient local knowledges that open-up possibilities for democratic reconstitution of society.
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Radical Islam in Indonesia: Latent External Threats for Australia. This project is a qualitative research project on the national and regional dynamics of radical Islamic movements in Indonesia. It investigates the ideas and events behind the radicalisation of Islam that occurred following the fall of the Soeharto regime. It also examines the domestic and international factors that have triggered this trend. This project will produce a detailed picture of the radical movements, which will includ ....Radical Islam in Indonesia: Latent External Threats for Australia. This project is a qualitative research project on the national and regional dynamics of radical Islamic movements in Indonesia. It investigates the ideas and events behind the radicalisation of Islam that occurred following the fall of the Soeharto regime. It also examines the domestic and international factors that have triggered this trend. This project will produce a detailed picture of the radical movements, which will include their actors, followers, training methods, media used, connections, and their impact at both the domestic and international level. The project's outcome will be useful for the identification of external threats to Australia and ensuring Australia's national security.Read moreRead less
The corruption-organised crime nexus in four European states, with particular reference to people smuggling. Considering its importance to Australia, too little research is being done here on Europe. The EU alone accounts for c.40% of Australia's trade. Yet most research on Europe undertaken here is either historical (pre-1945) and/or of individual countries. Relatively little is in the social sciences. One benefit of this project is that it ensures that comparative social science research o ....The corruption-organised crime nexus in four European states, with particular reference to people smuggling. Considering its importance to Australia, too little research is being done here on Europe. The EU alone accounts for c.40% of Australia's trade. Yet most research on Europe undertaken here is either historical (pre-1945) and/or of individual countries. Relatively little is in the social sciences. One benefit of this project is that it ensures that comparative social science research on Europe is conducted in Australia. Second, Australia experiences many problems facing European states, albeit usually on a smaller scale. The potential benefits of learning vicariously from others' experiences are obvious. Third, this will enhance this country's expertise in this strategically important area. Read moreRead less