Child, Nation, Race and Empire: a critical analysis of child rescue narratives in Britain, Australia and Canada 1850-1915. The aftermath of past child welfare practices has generated pain and anger across Australia. Through an analysis of the literature which informed such practices the project will strengthen Australia's social fabric by providing a much-needed historical context for the individuals, voluntary and government organizations seeking to understand how actions cast as benevolent cou ....Child, Nation, Race and Empire: a critical analysis of child rescue narratives in Britain, Australia and Canada 1850-1915. The aftermath of past child welfare practices has generated pain and anger across Australia. Through an analysis of the literature which informed such practices the project will strengthen Australia's social fabric by providing a much-needed historical context for the individuals, voluntary and government organizations seeking to understand how actions cast as benevolent could cause such harm. Such an understanding will also be cautionary for those engaged in the promotion of intercountry aid and adoption programs, which make similarly emotional appeals thus enhancing Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment.Read moreRead less
The politics of Indigenous enumeration in Australia, Canada and New Zealand - a history. The recent 'History Wars' demonstrated that how we tell our national story is more than an 'academic' issue. Settler-colonial nations, whether they enjoy it or not, are bound to ponder and to debate the histories of the relationships between colonisers and colonised. By being comparative, the project will enable Australians to consider what is common and what is unique in the Australian story. By highlightin ....The politics of Indigenous enumeration in Australia, Canada and New Zealand - a history. The recent 'History Wars' demonstrated that how we tell our national story is more than an 'academic' issue. Settler-colonial nations, whether they enjoy it or not, are bound to ponder and to debate the histories of the relationships between colonisers and colonised. By being comparative, the project will enable Australians to consider what is common and what is unique in the Australian story. By highlighting social science and social policy, the project will give interested Australians a context for their recent discussions about what policy (if any) should succeed 'self-determination'. Read moreRead less
In Her Place: state intervention and Indigenous domestic service in Australia and the United States, 1880-1945. As a transnational history of Indigenous domestic labour and government intervention, this project positions Australian scholarship at the forefront of major research initiatives in gender, race and colonialism studies, promoting Australian research among the international community of scholars. More importantly, by increasing public awareness of the complexity of race relations histor ....In Her Place: state intervention and Indigenous domestic service in Australia and the United States, 1880-1945. As a transnational history of Indigenous domestic labour and government intervention, this project positions Australian scholarship at the forefront of major research initiatives in gender, race and colonialism studies, promoting Australian research among the international community of scholars. More importantly, by increasing public awareness of the complexity of race relations history in our society, and taking understanding beyond the confines of a purely national outlook, this project contributes to ongoing efforts to address, come to terms with, and indeed learn from the more traumatic aspects of our history, in positive and constructive new ways.Read moreRead less
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI0775833
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$40,000.00
Summary
Aboriginal Women Law and Colonialism: Safe Places for Women. There has been extensive media reporting on violent crimes against Aboriginal women and children in Aboriginal communities across Australia, which has created wide public debate. In particular the role of the courts when sentencing Aboriginal offenders of violent crimes has drawn attention to the interpretation of Aboriginal law and culture. The evaluation of Australian case law will be invaluable in expanding the Australian communit ....Aboriginal Women Law and Colonialism: Safe Places for Women. There has been extensive media reporting on violent crimes against Aboriginal women and children in Aboriginal communities across Australia, which has created wide public debate. In particular the role of the courts when sentencing Aboriginal offenders of violent crimes has drawn attention to the interpretation of Aboriginal law and culture. The evaluation of Australian case law will be invaluable in expanding the Australian communities knowledge in this area of law and policy, in planning safer Aboriginal communities for Aboriginal women and children in the future. Read moreRead less
A history of terra nullius. The concept of 'terra nullius' has been central to debates concerning the land rights of indigenous peoples. The term, however, has been understood almost in an historical vacuum. Partly in consequence, landmark legal rulings supposedly overturning the doctrine of terra nullius have left European colonisers' justifications of their appropriation of land largely conceptually intact. The central innovation of this history will be to show that when terra nullius, prop ....A history of terra nullius. The concept of 'terra nullius' has been central to debates concerning the land rights of indigenous peoples. The term, however, has been understood almost in an historical vacuum. Partly in consequence, landmark legal rulings supposedly overturning the doctrine of terra nullius have left European colonisers' justifications of their appropriation of land largely conceptually intact. The central innovation of this history will be to show that when terra nullius, properly understood, is rejected in order to establish native title, the implications for the European tradition of property rights and human rights more generally will be profound.Read moreRead less
State formation and European expansion. There is a direct national benefit from this research. The aim of an intellectual history of colonisation is to provide an account of what Europeans engaged in expansion understood themselves to be doing. This account explores the justifications and political motivations for expansion and is accordingly of fundamental importance to contemporary legal debates over dispossession and the larger legacy of colonisation.
An intellectual history of theoretical innovation in the Anglo-American Humanities. This project makes an important contribution to the debate over humanities education. Post-structuralist theory in the humanities is attacked by some as modish and lacking in values, and defended by others as supporting critical reflection and progressive political and ethical values. The project explores the degree to which the 'moment of theory' represents the return of earlier European university metaphysics t ....An intellectual history of theoretical innovation in the Anglo-American Humanities. This project makes an important contribution to the debate over humanities education. Post-structuralist theory in the humanities is attacked by some as modish and lacking in values, and defended by others as supporting critical reflection and progressive political and ethical values. The project explores the degree to which the 'moment of theory' represents the return of earlier European university metaphysics to the centre of the humanities curriculum. The project will study these shifts in theory in the humanities and show these to be highly relevant to contemporary debates about teaching and learning.Read moreRead less
Understanding the concept and meaning of freedom in Western history. This project directly engages with current political and social debate and particularly with the National Research Priority 'Safeguarding Australia'. The priority goal 'Understanding our region and the world' is at the heart of the project because it addresses the principal political problem following from September 11, 2001: namely, the price of freedom. The project's principal national benefit will be to use history to chal ....Understanding the concept and meaning of freedom in Western history. This project directly engages with current political and social debate and particularly with the National Research Priority 'Safeguarding Australia'. The priority goal 'Understanding our region and the world' is at the heart of the project because it addresses the principal political problem following from September 11, 2001: namely, the price of freedom. The project's principal national benefit will be to use history to challenge our very understanding of the nature of freedom. The project questions the paradox that freedom can be assured by compromises made in the name of security and that, in this sense, freedom has a 'price'.Read moreRead less
Italians in Western Australia: A cultural history and archive of migrants and migration. This project brings together the interdisciplinary skills and international reputations of experts on Italian migration, peak State Government institutions and international and local Italian communities and institutions to redress a significant absence in the study of Western Australian Italian migration. An accessible history and archive of the Italian presence in WA urban, rural and transnational contexts ....Italians in Western Australia: A cultural history and archive of migrants and migration. This project brings together the interdisciplinary skills and international reputations of experts on Italian migration, peak State Government institutions and international and local Italian communities and institutions to redress a significant absence in the study of Western Australian Italian migration. An accessible history and archive of the Italian presence in WA urban, rural and transnational contexts will be produced. An exhibition will display this heritage to audiences across the State. Fine-grained historical research will provide valuable ethnographic evidence to inform pressing intellectual debates regarding migration, racism, multiculturalism, nationalism and transnationalism.Read moreRead less
Astride the Wallace Line 2: human evolution, dispersal, culture and environmental change in Southeast Asia. Our previous project on the archaeology and fossil record of Southeast Asia yielded results of international significance, including the discovery of a new human species and dates for major changes in the Indonesian faunal sequence. It also involved collaboration between Australian, Indonesian and Canadian researchers from a range of institutions and disciplines, and provided topics for s ....Astride the Wallace Line 2: human evolution, dispersal, culture and environmental change in Southeast Asia. Our previous project on the archaeology and fossil record of Southeast Asia yielded results of international significance, including the discovery of a new human species and dates for major changes in the Indonesian faunal sequence. It also involved collaboration between Australian, Indonesian and Canadian researchers from a range of institutions and disciplines, and provided topics for six PhD and two MA students. This level of significant research, international collaboration and training will continue with the current project.Read moreRead less