The global opponents of universal human rights, 1946-2006. This project will identify and analyse the historical patterns of opposition to universal human rights that have emerged since the birth of the United Nations in 1945. In doing so, it seeks to enable the more effective pursuit of a major Australian foreign policy objective, the global promotion of human rights.
The causes and consequences of the great famines of the last two centuries in Russia, China, Ireland and elsewhere. Famines have huge human, economic, social and cultural costs. A better understanding of the multi-faceted dimensions of past famines - the interplay between politics, economics, environment and culture in causing and shaping the response to famine events - will better inform public policy in regard to analogous large-scale crises, including the impact of flu pandemics and climate c ....The causes and consequences of the great famines of the last two centuries in Russia, China, Ireland and elsewhere. Famines have huge human, economic, social and cultural costs. A better understanding of the multi-faceted dimensions of past famines - the interplay between politics, economics, environment and culture in causing and shaping the response to famine events - will better inform public policy in regard to analogous large-scale crises, including the impact of flu pandemics and climate change. The comparative study of the causes, progress, responses to and effect of the great famines of the last two centuries might serve to better inform our understanding and response to such events. Read moreRead less
Touring the past: tourism and history in Australia 1850-2010. This project contributes to understanding our region and the world by investigating how Australia's past has attracted tourists historically. It analyses not only the ways Australians have popularly understood their own past, but how that past has been interpreted to the world. Given tourism's traditional focus has been nature rather than culture in Australia, it has often put pressures on a fragile environment. Cultural tourism is de ....Touring the past: tourism and history in Australia 1850-2010. This project contributes to understanding our region and the world by investigating how Australia's past has attracted tourists historically. It analyses not only the ways Australians have popularly understood their own past, but how that past has been interpreted to the world. Given tourism's traditional focus has been nature rather than culture in Australia, it has often put pressures on a fragile environment. Cultural tourism is developing as a major industry in Australia, destined to be even more significant in the future. History tourism is of particular benefit to rural communities, often under stress from economic and environmental pressures, and contributes to healthy active leisure.Read moreRead less
Historical Encyclopedia of Western Australia. To co-ordinate, research, analyse, write and develop an Historical Encyclopedia of Western Australia. The Encyclopedia will be produced as an innovative multimedia CD-ROM and website as well as a printed version.
Voices From the West End: The Fremantle Living Histories Project. 'Voices From the West End' is a pioneering collaborative research project that focuses on the multifaceted history of the West End Conservation Area, Fremantle's central heritage district. The aim of the project is to assemble and interweave the multiple and varied voices of the people of the port city, past and present, so as to produce an historical mosaic reflecting its evolution from the time of settlement until the present da ....Voices From the West End: The Fremantle Living Histories Project. 'Voices From the West End' is a pioneering collaborative research project that focuses on the multifaceted history of the West End Conservation Area, Fremantle's central heritage district. The aim of the project is to assemble and interweave the multiple and varied voices of the people of the port city, past and present, so as to produce an historical mosaic reflecting its evolution from the time of settlement until the present day. This highly original project will produce histories in two formats: in publications designed to reach a wide scholarly audience; and in a digital interactive documentary form.Read moreRead less
A cultural history of Australian motor travel overseas. This project will add to our understanding of Australians' changing perceptions of the world, the way that Australian identity has been performed when overseas and the practice of motor touring.
It will be of direct benefit to the tourist industry and in contributing to our knowledge of Australia's relationship to the world and our region.
A study of the public understanding of the Great Barrier Reef and its sustainable use. As a national icon, the survival of the Great Barrier Reef is of consequence to all Australians. As pressures on the Reef increase, it is imperative that the cultural heritage and social value of the Reef be recognised, understood, and mobilised to facilitate efforts to preserve the Reef for future generations. Reaching and informing broad and varied audiences in a range of communities, this project encourages ....A study of the public understanding of the Great Barrier Reef and its sustainable use. As a national icon, the survival of the Great Barrier Reef is of consequence to all Australians. As pressures on the Reef increase, it is imperative that the cultural heritage and social value of the Reef be recognised, understood, and mobilised to facilitate efforts to preserve the Reef for future generations. Reaching and informing broad and varied audiences in a range of communities, this project encourages a much wider appreciation of the value and importance of the Reef to Australian culture, and thus provides an important capacity-building step in realising the long-term social goal of sustainable use of the Reef's unique biodiversityRead moreRead less
Consumption in Late Imperial China: an Early Modern Phenomenon? China's present economic growth and consumer activity are of immediate interest to Australia. This study of consumer activities in earlier centuries will shed light on changes as well as continuities in Chinese consumption in a long era of globalization. The project will contribute to the corpus of Australian scholarship on Chinese and world history, enhancing local and global understandings of China's past, and enriching ways in wh ....Consumption in Late Imperial China: an Early Modern Phenomenon? China's present economic growth and consumer activity are of immediate interest to Australia. This study of consumer activities in earlier centuries will shed light on changes as well as continuities in Chinese consumption in a long era of globalization. The project will contribute to the corpus of Australian scholarship on Chinese and world history, enhancing local and global understandings of China's past, and enriching ways in which it is imagined.Read moreRead less
Empire to Republic: Politics and Culture in China's 20th Century History. This research project focuses on state and nation building in South China during the Republican era (1912-1949), the subject of major international publications by the CI and PI over a fifteen-year research partnership. The significance of the topic lies in its historiographical departure from narratives of ?party history? to theoretically-driven research into key aspects of modern state and nation-making in a formative pe ....Empire to Republic: Politics and Culture in China's 20th Century History. This research project focuses on state and nation building in South China during the Republican era (1912-1949), the subject of major international publications by the CI and PI over a fifteen-year research partnership. The significance of the topic lies in its historiographical departure from narratives of ?party history? to theoretically-driven research into key aspects of modern state and nation-making in a formative period of China's recent history. Outcomes include research training and theses, and refereed publications, which break new ground in their systematic application of state-making literature to Republican Chinese history.Read moreRead less
THE PEOPLE ENGAGE IN POLITICAL LIFE: THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AMERICAN STORY. Using unique archives of individual level political information, this study explores the idea of political identities and the ways ordinary citizens in nineteenth century America established their place in political life. Nine carefully chosen case studies allow examination of political participation and partisanship in settings traditional and modern, urban and rural. The project asks how, and whether, a democratic theo ....THE PEOPLE ENGAGE IN POLITICAL LIFE: THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AMERICAN STORY. Using unique archives of individual level political information, this study explores the idea of political identities and the ways ordinary citizens in nineteenth century America established their place in political life. Nine carefully chosen case studies allow examination of political participation and partisanship in settings traditional and modern, urban and rural. The project asks how, and whether, a democratic theory arising from a politics of rural localism retained meaning for citizens in very different social settings. Understanding how political identities were created in the past may help us identify ways to increase the saliency of politics in ordinary lives today.
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