EEO in a Culture of Uncertainty. Australia appears to be losing its commitment to equal opportunity as work becomes increasingly insecure. Deference to employers, including transnational corporations, is already exercising a disproportionate effect on women, racial minorities and people with disabilities. The impact of the market, globalisation and free trade agreements is resulting in the increasing marginalisation of EEO and anti-discrimination measures. As a turning away from social justice i ....EEO in a Culture of Uncertainty. Australia appears to be losing its commitment to equal opportunity as work becomes increasingly insecure. Deference to employers, including transnational corporations, is already exercising a disproportionate effect on women, racial minorities and people with disabilities. The impact of the market, globalisation and free trade agreements is resulting in the increasing marginalisation of EEO and anti-discrimination measures. As a turning away from social justice in favour of the market and profit-making can only impoverish a democratic society, this timely study will examine the nature of the retreat in the hope that something might be done about it. Read moreRead less
The religious factor and trends in civil society under conditions of globalisation in Australia, the U.S.A. and Brazil. This project explores a supposed chain of connections between globalisation, rapid religious change, the fragmentation of civil society, and a consequent weakening of democracy. Through comparative analysis, a counter claim will be investigated: that certain types of religious associations flourishing under conditions of globalisation in the three countries examined are importa ....The religious factor and trends in civil society under conditions of globalisation in Australia, the U.S.A. and Brazil. This project explores a supposed chain of connections between globalisation, rapid religious change, the fragmentation of civil society, and a consequent weakening of democracy. Through comparative analysis, a counter claim will be investigated: that certain types of religious associations flourishing under conditions of globalisation in the three countries examined are important elements in the regeneration of disturbed civil societies. The focus is on Australia, but a novel comparative analysis will help determine whether current fears about social fragmentation in Australia are justified. Resulting publications will enrich debate about the perils and opportunities of increasing multiculturalism in globalising societies.Read moreRead less
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
Anti-Consumerism in the Contemporary West. This project will investigate contemporary critiques of Western consumption emanating from within Western societies themselves. Divided into three interconnecting research themes, the project will offer a selective review of recent media and intellectual commentary on the consequences of consumption, a brief documentation of recent ?anti-consumption? activism in Europe, North America and Australasia, and an Australian-based ethnographic exploration of h ....Anti-Consumerism in the Contemporary West. This project will investigate contemporary critiques of Western consumption emanating from within Western societies themselves. Divided into three interconnecting research themes, the project will offer a selective review of recent media and intellectual commentary on the consequences of consumption, a brief documentation of recent ?anti-consumption? activism in Europe, North America and Australasia, and an Australian-based ethnographic exploration of how people limit consumption activities within contemporary everyday life. The project will culminate in a book-length study, representing one of the first attempts to fully document how a ?Western consumerism? is currently being challenged by intellectuals, social movement activists and ?consumers? themselves.Read moreRead less
Wellbeing not Winning: remote Indigenous identity and organised sport. This project examines the construction of Indigenous identity through organised sport in remote communities. Despite high profile successes of Indigenous people in elite sports, the effectiveness of relationships between remote communities and organised sport is not well understood. This project addresses the problem of how participation in organised sport affects identity and everyday life in remote Indigenous communities, b ....Wellbeing not Winning: remote Indigenous identity and organised sport. This project examines the construction of Indigenous identity through organised sport in remote communities. Despite high profile successes of Indigenous people in elite sports, the effectiveness of relationships between remote communities and organised sport is not well understood. This project addresses the problem of how participation in organised sport affects identity and everyday life in remote Indigenous communities, both positively and negatively. The project aims to provide an understanding of the role of organised sport in Indigenous identity construction in remote Australia and thus open opportunities for equitable and reconciliatory modes of participation.Read moreRead less
Solar solutions to improve energy affordability for low-income renters. This Project aims to develop solutions for low-income renters to access solar energy. Low-income households spend higher proportions of income on electricity costs. Solar energy is a key way to reduce electricity costs and thus improve energy affordability. Renters are largely excluded from this opportunity. Intended Project outcomes are solutions to access solar energy suitable for widespread application to low-income priva ....Solar solutions to improve energy affordability for low-income renters. This Project aims to develop solutions for low-income renters to access solar energy. Low-income households spend higher proportions of income on electricity costs. Solar energy is a key way to reduce electricity costs and thus improve energy affordability. Renters are largely excluded from this opportunity. Intended Project outcomes are solutions to access solar energy suitable for widespread application to low-income private, public and community rental housing. Adoption of the Project’s outcomes are expected to benefit low-income renters, assist electricity retailers to maintain and extend their customer base, and provide commercial incentives for the many stakeholders providing rental housing and residential solar and battery systems.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100388
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,040.00
Summary
Ethnicity and Assimilation in China: The Case of the Monguor in Tibet. China is currently addressing many issues associated with issues of minority cultural autonomy and ethnic differences. This project will explore the ongoing assimilation of the Monguor, an ethnic minority group in Tibet. It seeks to fill an important gap in our knowledge of ethnic tensions, autonomy and assimilation in contemporary China. Ethnographic fieldwork and discourse analysis of texts in Tibetan will be used to invest ....Ethnicity and Assimilation in China: The Case of the Monguor in Tibet. China is currently addressing many issues associated with issues of minority cultural autonomy and ethnic differences. This project will explore the ongoing assimilation of the Monguor, an ethnic minority group in Tibet. It seeks to fill an important gap in our knowledge of ethnic tensions, autonomy and assimilation in contemporary China. Ethnographic fieldwork and discourse analysis of texts in Tibetan will be used to investigate the impact of state and ethno-national assimilationist projects on ethnic minorities in China. This new analysis of China's ethnic dynamics and their geopolitical consequences is designed to strengthen our understanding of the region.Read moreRead less
Indigenous nationhood in the absence of recognition: Self-governance insights and strategies from three Aboriginal communities. Based on evidence that effective governance is a necessary precursor to Indigenous communities’ economic, social and cultural outcomes, this project aims to strengthen Australian Indigenous communities by learning and sharing lessons about sustainable and effective Indigenous governance. In collaboration with three Aboriginal communities in Victoria, South Australia and ....Indigenous nationhood in the absence of recognition: Self-governance insights and strategies from three Aboriginal communities. Based on evidence that effective governance is a necessary precursor to Indigenous communities’ economic, social and cultural outcomes, this project aims to strengthen Australian Indigenous communities by learning and sharing lessons about sustainable and effective Indigenous governance. In collaboration with three Aboriginal communities in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales that are differentially engaged in Indigenous governance processes, the project aims to identify innovation in community governance, test the usefulness of Australian governance assessment tools, and foster an Indigenous Australian and global network to share successful strategies. In doing so, the project contributes to an emerging theory of Indigenous nation building.Read moreRead less
Minds, Bodies, Machines: a cultural and intellectual history of technologies in the 21st century. This project benefits the intellectual and cultural life of the nation by establishing a unique dialogue between the I.T. community and University researchers in the humanities and social sciences. Using an
interdisciplinary methodology to explore technologically-driven social change across a period of more than two hundred years, the project will generate new and fresh ways of thinking about emerg ....Minds, Bodies, Machines: a cultural and intellectual history of technologies in the 21st century. This project benefits the intellectual and cultural life of the nation by establishing a unique dialogue between the I.T. community and University researchers in the humanities and social sciences. Using an
interdisciplinary methodology to explore technologically-driven social change across a period of more than two hundred years, the project will generate new and fresh ways of thinking about emerging areas of intense debate and controversy, such as humanoid robotics and artificial intelligence. The dialogue we propose will foster an environment of enhanced innovation, one in which knowledge translates directly and indirectly into social and economic benefits.Read moreRead less
Improving Spiritual Health Care for LGBT Australians. Research has demonstrated that attempts to change the sexual and gender orientation of LGBT people do not work, but little is known about their impacts or the extent of their practice in Australia. This project aims to investigate the history, scale and nature of LGBT conversion therapy in Australia. Robust data on Australian conversion practices will be collected through a national survey, life history interviews and focus groups with spirit ....Improving Spiritual Health Care for LGBT Australians. Research has demonstrated that attempts to change the sexual and gender orientation of LGBT people do not work, but little is known about their impacts or the extent of their practice in Australia. This project aims to investigate the history, scale and nature of LGBT conversion therapy in Australia. Robust data on Australian conversion practices will be collected through a national survey, life history interviews and focus groups with spiritual and mental health care providers. These data will be used to establish the impacts of conversion practices and develop resources to support improved spiritual care of LGBT people. The findings will benefit society, supporting social cohesion in the fraught area of religious and LGBT rights.
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