Water and the making of urban Australia since 1900. This project aims to produce new understandings of both the historical drivers of today’s urban water systems, and how these systems have impacted on human and ecological welfare. This will be achieved through the first integrated and comparative historical study of the provision, use and cultures of water in Australia’s five largest cities from 1900 to the present. Such historical knowledge is critical at a time when the water systems of Austr ....Water and the making of urban Australia since 1900. This project aims to produce new understandings of both the historical drivers of today’s urban water systems, and how these systems have impacted on human and ecological welfare. This will be achieved through the first integrated and comparative historical study of the provision, use and cultures of water in Australia’s five largest cities from 1900 to the present. Such historical knowledge is critical at a time when the water systems of Australia’s largest cities are under growing pressure from environmental change and population growth. Project findings will inform the development of policies and practices that produce sustainable, equitable urban water systems.Read moreRead less
Systemic Corruption and Regime Change: State, Business and Political Elites in Indonesia and Implications for Governance Reform. The development of a stable, prosperous and democratic Indonesia is fundamental to Australia's long-term security. Systemic corruption has been identified as a fundamental impediment to such development and the Australian Government through AUSAID funds institutional reform programs. Yet formal law remains ineffective and corruption has continued to flourish, pointing ....Systemic Corruption and Regime Change: State, Business and Political Elites in Indonesia and Implications for Governance Reform. The development of a stable, prosperous and democratic Indonesia is fundamental to Australia's long-term security. Systemic corruption has been identified as a fundamental impediment to such development and the Australian Government through AUSAID funds institutional reform programs. Yet formal law remains ineffective and corruption has continued to flourish, pointing to weaknesses of policy design. This project will explain how competing political elites systematically use the leverage of the state to redistribute resources within business and society and seek to identify the formal and informal rules that underpin such behaviour. Outcomes will be better models and more effective governance reforms.Read moreRead less
Soviet Social and Political Crises in Perspective: From the Famine of 1931-3 to the Yezhovshchina of 1937-8. We will all gain from an improved understanding of some of the major historical developments of the modern period. But in addition to this, at a time when judicial proceedings are being suspended and extra-judicial detentions, and punishments are increasing, it is useful to consider the history of these activities in other societies. It is sobering to see what measures Stalin introduced t ....Soviet Social and Political Crises in Perspective: From the Famine of 1931-3 to the Yezhovshchina of 1937-8. We will all gain from an improved understanding of some of the major historical developments of the modern period. But in addition to this, at a time when judicial proceedings are being suspended and extra-judicial detentions, and punishments are increasing, it is useful to consider the history of these activities in other societies. It is sobering to see what measures Stalin introduced to carry out what he considered to be a war on terrorism. We need to be aware of the causes of Stalinism in order to avoid similar consequences elsewhere.
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Australia's foreign aid since 1945: National values and aid allocation. This project aims to analyse Australian motives and their connectedness to the allocation of foreign aid since the Second World War. In addition to reducing poverty and lifting living standards abroad, aid has always been linked to other interests such as the promotion of security, economic opportunity and other outcomes. This project will research relationships between identified values and geographical priorities in Austra ....Australia's foreign aid since 1945: National values and aid allocation. This project aims to analyse Australian motives and their connectedness to the allocation of foreign aid since the Second World War. In addition to reducing poverty and lifting living standards abroad, aid has always been linked to other interests such as the promotion of security, economic opportunity and other outcomes. This project will research relationships between identified values and geographical priorities in Australia's aid programme. In reconnecting history with the social science of applied economics, it will provide methodological paths for further research, including comparable studies of other governments giving aid. This project expects to add to understanding of Australia's role in world affairs and the significance of aid in Australia's international reputation.Read moreRead less
Cultures of risk-taking in Renaissance Italy. This project aims to provide a cultural history of the development and nature of pre-modern capitalism that moves beyond outmoded models of linear, rational progression. The project will look at Renaissance Italy, a node in the development of modern capitalism, and analyse how merchants and gamblers took financial risks. By using risk as a category of analysis to examine the interconnections between rational and irrational decision making in sixteent ....Cultures of risk-taking in Renaissance Italy. This project aims to provide a cultural history of the development and nature of pre-modern capitalism that moves beyond outmoded models of linear, rational progression. The project will look at Renaissance Italy, a node in the development of modern capitalism, and analyse how merchants and gamblers took financial risks. By using risk as a category of analysis to examine the interconnections between rational and irrational decision making in sixteenth-century commerce and gambling, the project aims to understand the development of attitudes and values still prevalent today. The project will write irrationality into the history of modern capitalism.Read moreRead less
Made in the USA?: The Decline of the American Manufacturing Economy, 1950-2008. In a global economy, the decline of manufacturing industries has not just occurred in the U.S. but has also affected other high-wage labor markets, including Australia. As well as throwing light on this process in Australia, this project will show that deindustrialization is a transnational process and that many multinational firms have declined simultaneously in both countries. In a world where factory closings co ....Made in the USA?: The Decline of the American Manufacturing Economy, 1950-2008. In a global economy, the decline of manufacturing industries has not just occurred in the U.S. but has also affected other high-wage labor markets, including Australia. As well as throwing light on this process in Australia, this project will show that deindustrialization is a transnational process and that many multinational firms have declined simultaneously in both countries. In a world where factory closings constantly make headlines, the project also has considerable contemporary relevance in both countries.Read moreRead less
J.G. Crawford: Shaping Australia's Place in the World. Through a study of Sir John Grenfell (J.G.) Crawford, this project will examine transformations in Australian policy during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Crawford was a leading member of a generation of public servants who recast the practices of government, in this case through a particular focus on Australia's role in our region and among developing countries.
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL200100144
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,801,473.00
Summary
Population policy in modern world history: Challenges from the Asia Pacific. As the planet approaches 8 billion, international debate on population will be ignited again. This project aims to capitalise on Australia’s place in the global South, to lead a distinctively regional perspective on how population policies emerged, and what their present legacies are. Comparing Australia, Japan, India and China, the project intends to analyse highly diverse polities, challenging Europe-outward theses on ....Population policy in modern world history: Challenges from the Asia Pacific. As the planet approaches 8 billion, international debate on population will be ignited again. This project aims to capitalise on Australia’s place in the global South, to lead a distinctively regional perspective on how population policies emerged, and what their present legacies are. Comparing Australia, Japan, India and China, the project intends to analyse highly diverse polities, challenging Europe-outward theses on modernisation and development. This promises a much-improved historical model with which we might better assess the enduring population-environment-economy nexus well into the 21st century. The project should energise a new form of world history writing, boosting Australia's reputation as a leader in big-idea histories.Read moreRead less
Asbestos: The History of a Commodity. This is the first world history of the asbestos industry and its social impact. It investigates key aspects of the mineral's life story in regard to mining, manufacture, medical discovery, labour, social movements, the law and the state. The project is theoretically innovative in linking the distinct bodies of knowledge that flow from each of those sites. It also raises significant questions that cannot be answered within separate disciplines. The result ....Asbestos: The History of a Commodity. This is the first world history of the asbestos industry and its social impact. It investigates key aspects of the mineral's life story in regard to mining, manufacture, medical discovery, labour, social movements, the law and the state. The project is theoretically innovative in linking the distinct bodies of knowledge that flow from each of those sites. It also raises significant questions that cannot be answered within separate disciplines. The resulting book and articles will provide practical tools for those seeking improved working conditions and assist those seeking legal redress for asbestos related disease.Read moreRead less
Silicosis on South African Gold Mines: The History and Politics of an Occupational Disease, 1950 to 2005. This study of occupational disease has relevance to the mining industry which routinely publishes statements on Sustainable Mining as part of their corporate governance.Triple Bottom Line reporting includes reference to the industry's social, economic and environmental impacts. The hazardous work practices in developing countries shift the costs of production back onto labour thereby under- ....Silicosis on South African Gold Mines: The History and Politics of an Occupational Disease, 1950 to 2005. This study of occupational disease has relevance to the mining industry which routinely publishes statements on Sustainable Mining as part of their corporate governance.Triple Bottom Line reporting includes reference to the industry's social, economic and environmental impacts. The hazardous work practices in developing countries shift the costs of production back onto labour thereby under-cutting those producers who provide safer work environments. Those realities, which impact directly upon Australian industry, publics and governments, are explored in detail in this project.Read moreRead less