Openness in China under the WTO Regime: the Case of Dingzhou. The project will contribute to a better understanding in Australia of openness in local China, in particular, and sociopolical change in China and the globalization process in general. In doing so, it will to add to Australia's international reputation as a major centre of research on China and as a leader in research socio-political change at the local level. It is also likely to benefit bilateral trade by providing useful informatio ....Openness in China under the WTO Regime: the Case of Dingzhou. The project will contribute to a better understanding in Australia of openness in local China, in particular, and sociopolical change in China and the globalization process in general. In doing so, it will to add to Australia's international reputation as a major centre of research on China and as a leader in research socio-political change at the local level. It is also likely to benefit bilateral trade by providing useful information to those in Australia who wish to do business in China, especially in small cities like Dingzhou and rural areas. Read moreRead less
The changing roles, avenues and Impacts of public interest whistleblowing in the era of secure online technologies. This project will consolidate the place of Australian researchers at the cutting edge of world research on whistle blowing, and place Australian integrity and regulatory institutions at the forefront of new knowledge about the maximisation of employee disclosures as a tool of law enforcement, corruption resistance, financial security, public accountability and institutional effecti ....The changing roles, avenues and Impacts of public interest whistleblowing in the era of secure online technologies. This project will consolidate the place of Australian researchers at the cutting edge of world research on whistle blowing, and place Australian integrity and regulatory institutions at the forefront of new knowledge about the maximisation of employee disclosures as a tool of law enforcement, corruption resistance, financial security, public accountability and institutional effectiveness. Through unique access to the organizers and users of www.wikileaks.org and like technologies, the project provides a special opportunity for Australia to continue the development of its world-leading expertise in the study, promotion and best-practice regulation of public interest whistle blowing.Read moreRead less
Governance for Peace - A study of Indigenous and International Peacebuilding in East Timor. Through an in-depth study of peacebuilding in East Timor, this project aims to contribute both to understanding how people rebuild political relationships after widespread conflict and to the development of evaluatory mechanisms for international peacebuilding processes. While focussing on indigenous efforts to work against violence, the study will explore the interaction of indigenous and international p ....Governance for Peace - A study of Indigenous and International Peacebuilding in East Timor. Through an in-depth study of peacebuilding in East Timor, this project aims to contribute both to understanding how people rebuild political relationships after widespread conflict and to the development of evaluatory mechanisms for international peacebuilding processes. While focussing on indigenous efforts to work against violence, the study will explore the interaction of indigenous and international peacebuilding, and local and national level mechanisms. The outcomes will be a book on peacebuilding, a training manual and courses for fieldworkers, and contribution to the relationships between communities in Australia and East Timor.Read moreRead less
An Intellectual History of Political Corruption. The project will bring expert historical and conceptual knowledge to bear on the shortcomings of current policy debates, thereby suggesting new possibilities for re-defining and clarifying the problem of corruption and the meaning of good governance.
Parliamentary Careers: Design, Delivery and Evaluation of Improved Professional Development. National/community benefits arise from improved design, delivery and evaluation of professional development programs for parliamentarians, thereby enhancing their central constitutional roles in making laws, approving budgets and holding government policy and administration to account. This innovative cross-disciplinary project generates theoretical and practical understanding concerning the duration, co ....Parliamentary Careers: Design, Delivery and Evaluation of Improved Professional Development. National/community benefits arise from improved design, delivery and evaluation of professional development programs for parliamentarians, thereby enhancing their central constitutional roles in making laws, approving budgets and holding government policy and administration to account. This innovative cross-disciplinary project generates theoretical and practical understanding concerning the duration, content and learning modes of parliamentarians' professional development programs. Australian assistance programs to parliaments in the Pacific will have improved design, delivery and evaluation and be more effective in improving parliamentary performance, national governance and enhanced political stability in Australia's region.Read moreRead less
Democratic Leadership in Foreign Affairs. This project explores the opportunities and constraints on democratic leaders at the intersection of domestic and international politics. By undertaking a comparative study of the impact of democratic leadership on foreign affairs in ?ve advanced democracies (Australia, the United Kingdom, USA, Germany and France) it will examine how democratic norms (such as transparency, accountability and rights) and democratic institutions (governance structures, par ....Democratic Leadership in Foreign Affairs. This project explores the opportunities and constraints on democratic leaders at the intersection of domestic and international politics. By undertaking a comparative study of the impact of democratic leadership on foreign affairs in ?ve advanced democracies (Australia, the United Kingdom, USA, Germany and France) it will examine how democratic norms (such as transparency, accountability and rights) and democratic institutions (governance structures, parties, electoral cycles, the media) affect leaders’ capacities in foreign affairs. The ?ndings from the research will be published in a series of journal articles and a book with a major academic press.Read moreRead less
After the crisis: Nation-building challenges in East Timor. Given the substantial commitment of International Stabilisation Force intervention, nation and state building in East Timor remains a high priority for Australian policy makers. This project will examine three key nation-building agendas in post-crisis East Timor, focusing on the key areas of decentralisation of state authority, evolving relationships with traditional authorities, and post-crisis conflict resolution programs, over the p ....After the crisis: Nation-building challenges in East Timor. Given the substantial commitment of International Stabilisation Force intervention, nation and state building in East Timor remains a high priority for Australian policy makers. This project will examine three key nation-building agendas in post-crisis East Timor, focusing on the key areas of decentralisation of state authority, evolving relationships with traditional authorities, and post-crisis conflict resolution programs, over the period of 2009-11. In so doing, the project will contribute to a better understanding of antecedent factors to state failure, linking directly with recent Australian government policy concerns over 'fragile states', and their potential to destabilise the regional security environment.Read moreRead less
Perceptions of terrorist groups in conflict-affected states. How do terrorist groups adapt in the face of counterterrorism measures and sustain themselves despite their lack of local popularity? This project answers this question through a systematic analysis of how local observers understand extremist groups in four states facing significant terrorist activities: Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan, and Somalia. This comparative analysis will provide an opportunity to assess local knowledge as a form of resi ....Perceptions of terrorist groups in conflict-affected states. How do terrorist groups adapt in the face of counterterrorism measures and sustain themselves despite their lack of local popularity? This project answers this question through a systematic analysis of how local observers understand extremist groups in four states facing significant terrorist activities: Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan, and Somalia. This comparative analysis will provide an opportunity to assess local knowledge as a form of resistance to terrorism, thereby generating new approaches to conceptualising and countering violent extremism. Other expected outcomes include new collaborative research networks between Australia and conflict-affected states, the creation of new datasets for researchers, and training for research students.Read moreRead less
The Democratization of the Rising China through Deliberative Democracy. This project falls within the Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia. Its benefits include strengthening Australian leadership in deliberative democracy, developing deliberative democratization in China which is vital for the security and fundamental interest of Australia, and offering new strategies of deliberative democratization for the international democracy-promotion community. It will contribute to a balanced and ....The Democratization of the Rising China through Deliberative Democracy. This project falls within the Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia. Its benefits include strengthening Australian leadership in deliberative democracy, developing deliberative democratization in China which is vital for the security and fundamental interest of Australia, and offering new strategies of deliberative democratization for the international democracy-promotion community. It will contribute to a balanced and sophisticated understanding of Chinese democratization; enhance cooperation between Australian researchers and their counterparts in China; and contribute to global democracy-promotion activities by developing a new field of deliberative democratization.Read moreRead less
Deliberative Democracy and Citizenship: A Study of Deliberative Polling and Participatory Budgeting in China. The result of this research will enhance Australian democracy-promotion activities overseas, foster Chinese learning from Australian deliberative democratic experiences, as well as benefiting Australian governmental agencies such as AusAID and Australian NGOs working in this field. The project will also strengthen cooperation between Australian researchers and their counterparts in China ....Deliberative Democracy and Citizenship: A Study of Deliberative Polling and Participatory Budgeting in China. The result of this research will enhance Australian democracy-promotion activities overseas, foster Chinese learning from Australian deliberative democratic experiences, as well as benefiting Australian governmental agencies such as AusAID and Australian NGOs working in this field. The project will also strengthen cooperation between Australian researchers and their counterparts in China. The lessons learned from this Chinese experiment can be used to improve the quality of citizen participation and to develop more effective means of public participation and consultation in Australia. The project will contribute to the Australian government's dialogue approach to human rights issues in China since 1989.Read moreRead less