Selling their Souls: Between bound and free labour/imperial capital and the late colonial state in Asia and Australia. The role of unfree labour has been central to the debate on colonialism and the spread of global trade in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Much has been written about particular colonies, but little examines colonial labour as part of a global phenomenon. This project does so by comparing companies, workers and the state across a number of European colonies. It a ....Selling their Souls: Between bound and free labour/imperial capital and the late colonial state in Asia and Australia. The role of unfree labour has been central to the debate on colonialism and the spread of global trade in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Much has been written about particular colonies, but little examines colonial labour as part of a global phenomenon. This project does so by comparing companies, workers and the state across a number of European colonies. It asks theoretically innovative questions, syntheses extant research, and requires new archival research. Findings, to be published in international journals and monograph series, will contribute to historical and contemporary debates on the impact of globalisation on labour.Read moreRead less
Immigration Restriction and the Racial State, c. 1880 to the present. Legislating the specific criteria by which people are refused entry into sovereign territory has posed critical problems for policy and law from the late nineteenth century to the present day. By analysing the long history of medico-legal border control in the Asia-Pacific region, the project will uncover previously forgotten legal and policy links and will analyse a history of mutual influence between Australia and neighbouri ....Immigration Restriction and the Racial State, c. 1880 to the present. Legislating the specific criteria by which people are refused entry into sovereign territory has posed critical problems for policy and law from the late nineteenth century to the present day. By analysing the long history of medico-legal border control in the Asia-Pacific region, the project will uncover previously forgotten legal and policy links and will analyse a history of mutual influence between Australia and neighbouring nations. This will productively assist a policy environment (both national and international) primed for ever more intense border control. Read moreRead less
The transnational history of the Chinese Nationalist Party. First the project contributes to better understanding of Australia's region, secondly it enhances understanding of the place of international Chinese communities in world politics, trade, and migration, thirdly it contributes to Australian understanding of the ties linking the Chinese diaspora in Australia to other Chinese communities around the world and in China, fourth it contributes to important international debates on migration an ....The transnational history of the Chinese Nationalist Party. First the project contributes to better understanding of Australia's region, secondly it enhances understanding of the place of international Chinese communities in world politics, trade, and migration, thirdly it contributes to Australian understanding of the ties linking the Chinese diaspora in Australia to other Chinese communities around the world and in China, fourth it contributes to important international debates on migration and ethnic politics over the course of the 20th century, and fifth it confirms Australia's international standing as a site of innovation and excellence in research on the Asian and Pacific regions.Read moreRead less
Indonesian labour migration to north Australia, 1880-1972. This study of mobility between Indonesia and Australia provides a historical context for understanding Australia's relations with Indonesia and the complex history of our shared maritime border. Exploration of Indonesian immigration experiences will add to current political debate over temporary labour migration. This project demonstrates the importance of cross-border research as a means of enriching Australian history and enhancing our ....Indonesian labour migration to north Australia, 1880-1972. This study of mobility between Indonesia and Australia provides a historical context for understanding Australia's relations with Indonesia and the complex history of our shared maritime border. Exploration of Indonesian immigration experiences will add to current political debate over temporary labour migration. This project demonstrates the importance of cross-border research as a means of enriching Australian history and enhancing our cultural capital in relation to our northern neighbours. This detailed study of our multi-ethnic northern communities from which came the first Indonesian-Australian citizens makes a significant contribution to our knowledge of Australia's Asian diaspora.Read moreRead less
GENDER IDEOLOGY, RACIAL MYTHOLOGY AND THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF CHILD REMOVAL IN COLONIAL BURMA, CAMBODIA AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 1886-1947. The project aims to further understanding of colonial policies, missionary practices and public discourses supporting the removal of mixed-race children from Indigenous mothers and milieu. Its significance lies in its comparison of three diverse colonial regimes: British Burma, French Cambodia and Western Australia. Equally significant is its analysis of t ....GENDER IDEOLOGY, RACIAL MYTHOLOGY AND THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF CHILD REMOVAL IN COLONIAL BURMA, CAMBODIA AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 1886-1947. The project aims to further understanding of colonial policies, missionary practices and public discourses supporting the removal of mixed-race children from Indigenous mothers and milieu. Its significance lies in its comparison of three diverse colonial regimes: British Burma, French Cambodia and Western Australia. Equally significant is its analysis of the transcolonial traffic in ideologies of race and gender and the contingent development and deployment of such universalizing tropes as the "Half-Caste Woman" to rationalize policies of child removal. The final outcome will be a book. Interim outcomes include a graduate workshop, an international conference and journal articles.Read moreRead less
Elephants in the sacred grove: a transcultural history of Thomas Jones and the Calvinistic Methodist mission to the Khasi Hills. This project will assert the central role of religion in shaping cultural, political and ethnic identity, through an analysis of the Christian evangelical encounter in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, India, and in particular the work of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist missionary Thomas Jones (1810-1849). It will challenge current views of the simplistic relationship between m ....Elephants in the sacred grove: a transcultural history of Thomas Jones and the Calvinistic Methodist mission to the Khasi Hills. This project will assert the central role of religion in shaping cultural, political and ethnic identity, through an analysis of the Christian evangelical encounter in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, India, and in particular the work of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist missionary Thomas Jones (1810-1849). It will challenge current views of the simplistic relationship between missions and colonial order, exploring missionaries' spiritual, modernising and imperialist ideologies, as well as indigenous negotiations and adaptations of the missionary project. This will provide a significant new base for understanding the historical trajectory of Christianisation and acculturation, and inform contemporary debates about reconciliation and decolonisation.Read moreRead less
Chinese imprint on Tasmania and consequent connnections with China. The project identifies and analyses Chinese cultural heritage in Tasmania and consequent connections with China. It will establish the veracity of life and work of Chinese settlers in Tasmania and of their descendants in China as a result. It will analyse Chinese traditional cultural values that underlined migrant motivation and behaviour patterns. Finally it will analyse how their connections with Tasmania influenced life of th ....Chinese imprint on Tasmania and consequent connnections with China. The project identifies and analyses Chinese cultural heritage in Tasmania and consequent connections with China. It will establish the veracity of life and work of Chinese settlers in Tasmania and of their descendants in China as a result. It will analyse Chinese traditional cultural values that underlined migrant motivation and behaviour patterns. Finally it will analyse how their connections with Tasmania influenced life of their descendants. The project will provide intellectual content for local community to establish Chinese aspect of cultural heritage and find a niche tourist market for affluent Chinese from where their ancestors came to Tasmania.Read moreRead less
The Racial Century. My aim is to produce an intellectual history of bio-politics in what I call the 'racial century' between 1850 and 1950 by studying the cases of Germany and Australia. Not only will the project contribute to the literature in social theory on race and 'modernity', but also to the recent controversial historiography of genocide and the Holocaust. It will offer a new way of linking eugenic thought and policy development (bio-politics) with nation building, imperial competition, ....The Racial Century. My aim is to produce an intellectual history of bio-politics in what I call the 'racial century' between 1850 and 1950 by studying the cases of Germany and Australia. Not only will the project contribute to the literature in social theory on race and 'modernity', but also to the recent controversial historiography of genocide and the Holocaust. It will offer a new way of linking eugenic thought and policy development (bio-politics) with nation building, imperial competition, and international and intra-national racial struggle, thereby transcending unproductive debates about the precendence or uniqueness of particular genocides.Read moreRead less
Assimilation and Empire. There are growing calls internationally for the integration of immigrant communities as a long-term means of combating terrorism. Through an understanding of the history of assimilation, this project provokes considerable scepticism concerning the current resurgence of assimilationist sentiment. The politics of culturally diverse societies are profound but they are not going to be solved by simplistic diagnosis. The politics of assimilation is not the solution to cont ....Assimilation and Empire. There are growing calls internationally for the integration of immigrant communities as a long-term means of combating terrorism. Through an understanding of the history of assimilation, this project provokes considerable scepticism concerning the current resurgence of assimilationist sentiment. The politics of culturally diverse societies are profound but they are not going to be solved by simplistic diagnosis. The politics of assimilation is not the solution to contemporary terrorism but part of the problem. Thus at the heart of this project lie concerns which directly address the National Research Priority, Safeguarding Australia.Read moreRead less
The British Diaspora in the Modern World: A Social History of British Migration and Transnational Networks since the 1960s. As a migrant nation Australia has a vital interest in maintaining informed discussion of the diverse and overlapping historical threads that contribute to national make-up and identity. The substantial British contribution to this process in the later 20th century, and the wider shift in migration processes it illuminates, has been significantly understated in migration re ....The British Diaspora in the Modern World: A Social History of British Migration and Transnational Networks since the 1960s. As a migrant nation Australia has a vital interest in maintaining informed discussion of the diverse and overlapping historical threads that contribute to national make-up and identity. The substantial British contribution to this process in the later 20th century, and the wider shift in migration processes it illuminates, has been significantly understated in migration research. This project undertakes a timely exploration of British-Australians' experience, and their wider mobility, as many migrants adopt a more continuous pattern of movement. Understanding the complex threads of different migrant cultures' adaptation and 'belonging' will be valuable for policy-makers and for public and academic debate.Read moreRead less