Conference Explores Future of Democracy in Iraq and Middle East

Conference Explores Future of Democracy in Iraq and Middle East In the wake of Iraq’s elections on January 30, the Griffith Asia Institute hosted a timely and well-attended conference on February 24 and 25 entitled “Post-Saddam Iraq: Gambling the future of democratisation and the free market ideal?” Five speakers, from Australia and the United States, provided thoughtful and often provocative perspectives on the problems now facing Iraq, and the influence its success or failure as a stable, democratic state will have on the credibility of the liberal democratic model for development. The speakers included Major General John Hartley (Ret.); former Middle-East diplomat Anthony Bubalo; and Professors Ross Buckley (Bond University), Ira Chernus (University of Colorado) and Amin Saikal (ANU). The conference attracted academic interest from a broad range of disciplines and also from government, including two representatives from the Department of Defence. This breadth of representation made a significant contribution to the conference discussions and closing plenary session. The five speakers covered a broad range of issues critical to the conference theme, focusing in particular on the challenges facing the allied military forces, the prior existence of important pro-democratic forces and advocates within the Middle-East, Washington’s approach to Iraqi debt and its implications for the World Bank’s ‘Highly Indebted Poor Country’ initiative, Iraq’s impact on Arab and Islamic attitudes Professor John Dewar, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) and Deputy Vice President, Griffith University and Major General (Ret) John Hartley at the conference and opinions towards the West, and the diverse – and often conflicting – nature of domestic political perceptions in the US and the foreign policy problems they pose. Conference convenor Dr Michael Heazle and GAI member Professor Yan Islam are currently collecting and editing revised versions of the conference papers for publication, which will also be available through the GAI website. PAGE 2 GRIFFITH ASIA INSTITUTE NEWSLETTER Editorial The first months of 2005 have seen several developments of great significance for Asia and the South Pacific and for Australia’s foreign relations. The tsunami tragedy not only raised the fragility of human security in our region to the forefront of our minds, it also facilitated a significant gesture of solidarity and support from Australia’s society and government towards our neighbours. The visits of the Indonesian and Malaysian leaders to Australia demonstrated this country’s growing importance to Southeast Asian states. On a less optimistic note, the recent tensions between Japan and China, at governmental and popular levels, demonstrate how complicated and potentially dangerous regional relations can be. The Griffith Asia Institute was delighted to host a conference on the future of Iraq in February. Attracting national and international experts and a significant audience, the conference explored some crucial issues for Iraq and its region. Continuing the theme of hosting conferences on timely topics, the Institute will host a major international conference on the Doha Round of trade negotiations in early August, and another international conference on energy security in the Asia Pacific in late August. In June, the GAI will launch its ‘Perspectives: Asia Pacific’ public seminar series in partnership Professor Michael Wesley, Director, Griffith Asia Institute. with the Queensland Art Gallery. And in the next few weeks, we will be producing ‘Regional Outlook’ papers on public attitudes towards Islam, China’s policy towards Central Asia Since September 11, the rising Sino-Japanese tensions and Bi-lateral Trade Negotiations in the Asia Pacific. It will be a very busy and productive year. I look forward to welcoming all of the Griffith Asia Institute’s friends and supporters into an ongoing conversation about Australia’s region. “The United States and East Asia: How much does the Bush revolution matter?” Professor Michael Mastanduno recently presented a Griffith Asia Institute sponsored public lecture entitled “The United States and East Asia: How much does the Bush revolution matter?” The United States emerged after the Cold War as the world’s dominant power. It has since the 1990s pursued a “hegemonic” strategy globally and in the East Asian region. Professor Mastanduno argued that the events of September 11 have had a profound impact on United States foreign policy: The United States has become more risk-accepting, less wedded to existing institutional arrangements, and less content with the status quo. These policy changes, along with Professor Michael Mastanduno (right) with Professor Michael changes in the US position in the Wesley, Director, Griffith Asia world economy, hold important Institute, at Griffith University implications for US regional strategy. Professor Mastanduno discussed possible future directions for US foreign policy, noting that the years ahead will be challenging ones for the United States in East Asia. Congratulations to Professor Yul Kwon In December 2004, Griffith University International Centre, in conjunction with Griffith’s Centre for Applied Linguistics and Languages (CALL) and Australian Education International Korea, held a unique tribute in honour of Professor Yul Kwon, a member of Griffith Asia Institute, in Seoul, Korea. The event recognised his contribution to Korean studies and AustraliaKorea relations. Attendees included the Australian Ambassador to Korea, five presidents and one vice president of six of the top Korean universities, many senior managers of Korean companies, and a number of Griffith alumni in Korea. There are currently about 400 students from Korea at Griffith University. APRIL – MAY 2005 PAGE 3 Griffith Asia Institute events A Lifetime of Commitment: A conference to commemorate Colin Mackerras’s contributions to China Studies Professor Colin Mackerras retired at the end of 2004 after more than 30 years of service to Griffith University. In that time he achieved a reputation as an excellent teacher and supervisor, and built a very impressive research record. Colin’s research interests covered a range of topics, including China’s national minorities, Beijing opera, Australia-China relations, Western images of China, and Chinese history and politics. He was also a leading figure in Asian Studies in Australia, constantly advocating the need for better knowledge of Asia amongst the Australian population. In November 2004, the Griffith Asia Institute held a conference to commemorate Colin’s enormous contribution to China Studies, and to wish him well in his retirement. Ten of Australia’s leading China scholars were invited to present papers that highlighted different aspects of Colin’s prodigious research output. These scholars included Kam Louie, Louise Edwards, Dennis Woodward, Doug Smith, Gary Sigley, Don McMillen, Leong Liew, Nick Knight, Michael Dutton and Mary Farquhar. Before an invited audience, they presented papers on topics as diverse as China’s defence policy, eighteenth century Chinese literature, the revival of interest in Mao Zedong in contemporary China, the origins of Marxism in China, changing Chinese attitudes to human relationships, Chinese film, the concept Professor Colin Mackerras (centre, second row) with workshop participants of public space in modern Chinese history, and the literary response to Australia of Chinese in Australia. Don McMillen presented a tribute to Colin’s contribution to China Studies, detailing his many publications. The conference ended with Colin’s reminiscences of his lifetime of study of and travels in China, but indicated that he would take his interest in China into retirement. Indeed, Colin is spending the first half of 2005 teaching at the Foreign Studies University in Beijing. The Effects of Tourism on China’s Ethnic Cultures BY COLIN MACKERRAS Since the era of mass tourism began in the 1960s, tourism has become one of the world’s biggest money-spinners and has contributed greatly to people’s appreciation of other cultures. Recognising this phenomenon, Griffith Asia Institute held a workshop entitled “The Effects of Tourism on China’s Ethnic Cultures” on 3 December 2004. One of the most interesting sides of tourism is the way it is used for minorities around the world. China has over 100 million minorities, most of them very poor. Tourism can help bring them into the mainstream of society and raise their standard of living. It also provides a commercial reason for preserving their culture. But it also raises dangers, because by commercialising ethnic cultures, tourism can also damage them by making them into a kind of commodity and by tearing them apart from their social roots. Professor Colin Mackerras (fifth from left) with workshop presenters. The workshop is the first stage of a grant proposal Professor Mackerras mounted in conjunction with Professor Beverley Sparks and Dr Grace Pan of the Department of Tourism, Leisure, Sport and Hotel Management at the Gold Coast campus. For the occasion they assembled several leading specialists from the University of Tasmania, the Australian National University and The University of Queensland to discuss the issues raised by ethnic tourism. GRIFFITH ASIA INSTITUTE PAGE 4 GRIFFITH ASIA INSTITUTE NEWSLETTER Griffith University signs new agreements with the Shandong College of Arts Queensland College of Art Griffith University (QCA) recently signed several new agreements with the Shandong College of Arts (SCA), a partner institution of Griffith University from Jinan, the capital of Shandong province in the People’s Republic of China. The new agreements included an update of the existing exchange agreement, a letter of intent regarding articulation in the Bachelor of Design, and a letter of intent in relation to the QCA visiting scholar program to Shandong. A focal point during the visit by representatives of the Shandong College of Arts was a series of discussions with QCA staff about the possible articulation of SCA students into QCA’s undergraduate Bachelor of Design program. Under this agreement students from Shandong will be able to credit their study in Jinan towards a Bachelor of Design program at Griffith University. This will be the first time the QCA and SCA have embarked on an articulation agreement in an undergraduate program. QCA postgraduate students will also have the opportunity to teach at the Shandong College of Arts as part of a visiting scholar program. QCA students provide lessons in art and cultural theory for Shandong students, and in return receive some monetary assistance from Shandong to meet the costs of living overseas. One student who participated in the visiting scholar program in 2004 was Ms Laini Burton, a PhD candidate in the Doctor of Visual Arts program at QCA. Ms Burton said her appreciation of Chinese Present at the signing ceremony: Front row (from left to right): Dr Gyu Ha Bae, Mr Shaoli Hu, Mr Wenmin Liu, Professor Ian O’Connor, Professor Kay Ferres, Associate Professor Pat Hoffie. Back row (from left to right): Mr Cameron Genninges, Mr Thomas Toh, Dr Paul Cleveland, Mr Richard Blundell, Mr Donald Welch, Ms Gayle Crosbie, Mr Earle Bridger. culture and the Asian region in general had expanded greatly through the experience. During her four months at SCA Ms Burton taught both Art Theory and some English language lessons to Shandong students. As a practising artist, she also produced a sculpture that will be exhibited at the Qingdao International Sculpture Museum. Ms Burton said the overwhelming memory of her experience in China was the generosity and hospitality shown by the Chinese people during her stay. PhD candidate Laini Burton visited Shandong College of Arts as a visiting scholar in 2004 Griffith Asia Institute Newsletter is the newsletter of the Griffith Asia Insitute Griffith University Nathan campus Brisbane Qld 4111 Australia www.griffith.edu.au/centre/asiainstitute If you would like your Asia Pacific-related activities to be featured in this newsletter, please contact the publisher: Mrs Honor Lawler, Manager Telephone: 61 7 3875 3730 Facsimile: 61 7 3875 3731 Email: h.lawler@griffith.edu.au or Professor Michael Wesley, Director Telephone 61 7 3875 5143 Facsimile: 61 7 3875 3731 Email: m.wesley@griffith.edu.au Visit by High Commissioner The University hosted a visit by His Excellency Mr Prabhat Prakash Shukla, High Commissioner for India in Australia in support of the continuance of collaborative relationships between Griffith and foreign diplomatic and consular representatives based in Australia. The visit took place on Thursday February 24 and was attended by Professor Ian O’Connor, Vice Chancellor, Mr Chris Madden, Professor Ross Guest, Professor Glenda Strachan, Professor Leong Liew, Mr Greg Cranitch, Professor Michael Wesley and Associate Professor Margaret Greenway. Pro Vice Chancellor (International) Chris Madden, Vice Chancellor Professor Ian O’Connor, His Excellency, Mr Prabhat Prakash Shukla, High Commissioner for India in Australia, and Professor Sarva-Daman Singh, Honorary Consul for India in Australia at Griffith University. APRIL – MAY 2005 PAGE 5 Graduate profile – Dr Louise Edwards Louise Edwards completed her PhD at Griffith in 1993 after finishing undergraduate degrees at Auckland and Murdoch Universities. Her Phd topic explored the contemporary critiques of China’s most famous classical novel, The Red Chamber Dream. Louise came to appreciate the importance of this novel to contemporary Chinese society and politics when studying in Beijing and Nanjing in the mid 1980s. In China Louise discovered that “Cultural artifacts are central to national identity and political debate in China.” She described her supervisors, Associate Professor Mary Farquhar and Professor Nick Knight as “first rate” mentors and academic advisors. “Their personal and professional support has been central to my career progress in the years since leaving Griffith”. After graduating, Louise spent a year in Taiwan on a scholarship from the Centre for Chinese Studies at the National Central Library and then returned to take up a postdoctoral position in the Department of Asian Languages and Studies at the University of Queensland. From there she moved to an academic position teaching Asian Studies at Australian Catholic University’s Brisbane campus. “As a new academic teaching across a full range of Asian Studies courses, it was wonderful to be able to ring friends at Griffith for advice on course content and appropriate textbooks. Many colleagues generously shared their lecture notes with me.” In 2002, Louise moved to Australian National University to take up a position in the China and Korea Centre of the Faculty of Asian Studies where she teaches Chinese Language and Chinese Studies. Having published five books and over 20 articles, Louise’s research has focused primarily on gender in China from the Qing to contemporary times. Her latest volume traces the history of women’s campaigns for suffrage in China during the first half of the twentieth century. In addition to her teaching and research Louise has been active in service to the Asian Studies profession. For eight years Louise served on the Asian Studies Association of Australia Council, six of them as Secretary. She currently serves Dr Louise Edwards as General Editor for the ASAA’s Women in Asia Series, which publishes books with RoutledgeCurzon in London. Books by Griffith academics Dr Catherine Burns and Dr Kaye Broadbent have both appeared in the series in recent years. In 2004 Louise assumed the position of Convener of the ARC’s Asia Pacific Futures Research Network—a nation-wide group charged with providing leadership for new synergies in Asia Pacific Research in Australia. Funded for five years with $1.5 million, Louise hopes that this injection of ARC funds will help maintain Australia’s leadership in Asia Pacific research internationally. Griffith Asia Institute will host the first of the network’s major annual conferences in August 2005. Griffith University welcomes Chinese students Griffith University recently welcomed students from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control (China CDC) as part of a joint delivery program between Griffith University and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the Master of Sciences in Public Health degree program. The students are all professionals in a variety of public health fields, ranging from environmental health, to food safety, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS prevention and communicable and infectious diseases control immunisation, and nutrition, in particular iodine deficiency. The students have already completed one semester of study in Beijing and will continue their studies at Griffith in specialisations such as Environment and Population Health, Environmental Health Management, Research Design and Planning, Geographical Information System, and Workplace Health and Safety Management. The joint delivery program involves Griffith University staff teaching two of the four initial subjects in Beijing (including English language Griffith University Vice Chancellor Ian O’Connor (centre front row) and Griffith University staff welcome students from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention training), with students then transferring, after one semester of study, to Griffith University in Brisbane, to continue their studies in both English language and Public Health specialisations. Students then have the option of returning to China or continuing at Griffith for their third semester of study. GRIFFITH ASIA INSTITUTE PAGE 6 GRIFFITH ASIA INSTITUTE NEWSLETTER Trading Australia to the world Travelling the world and promoting the benefits of trade with Australia are all in a day’s work for five Griffith graduates who are working for Austrade in North and South America. Among the crop of successful expatriots and Griffith graduates is Kylie Hargreaves who works as Deputy Consul General and Senior Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles, where she has lived for the past two and a half years. She manages a team of business development specialists who work with Australian companies to successfully enter United States markets. There is also a glamourous side to Kylie’s role which involves using famous Australian celebrities, such as country star Keith Urban and Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins, to draw attention to smaller Australian successes. Kylie, who graduated in 1992, said her International Business degree gave her an edge in being selected for Austrade’s graduate program in 1993 which was a springboard into her career in international trade. As the daughter of a diplomat, Kylie was exposed to international relations from a young age which shaped her career aspirations and her outlook on life. “As my Griffith Uni ethics teacher once said, as long as you are facing new things you are always going to learn new things about yourself and others.” Meanwhile, in South America Mark Argar has recently taken on the post of Consul-General and Senior Trade Commissioner, Latin America in Sao Paulo, Brazil after working for three years as ConsulGeneral and Trade Commissioner in Lima, Peru. He has completed both a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies and a Master of Business Administration at Griffith University. “When I studied my undergraduate degree I was interested in securing a job in international trade on graduation,” Mark said. “When I studied the MBA I was interested in furthering my knowledge of management. The current job is a perfect blend of both ambitions.” Mark has spent the past three years in Latin America and has a strong belief in the importance of Australia looking beyond Asia for export markets. Before working in South America, Mark worked for Australian industry in Taiwan and the Philippines. Other graduates who are now working for Austrade in the Americas include Michelle Pflaum, (Business Development Manager, San Francisco), Nigel Warren (Trade Commissioner, Chile) and Paul Martins (Mexico). From left to right – Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins, Head of Tourism Australia (Americas) Michael Longdregan and Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner Kylie Hargreaves on the red carpet at Australia Week celebrations in Los Angeles. Graduate Mark Argar has recently taken on the post of Consul-General in Sao Paulo, Brazil. APRIL – MAY 2005 PAGE 7 China Field Study 2004-2005 BY ANNE MCMILLAN The China Field Study summer semester was undertaken this year in Kunming, Yunnan Province. Yunnan (beautiful clouds in the south) Province is the most southwest region of China. Yunnan has a diverse topography that ranges from alpine mountains in the northwest to the rain forest area of Xishuangbanna in the south. It is also home to 25 different ethnic groups, making it the most culturally diverse province in China. The students not only undertook Chinese language studies in Kunming, they also had the opportunity to travel throughout the province. One of the more interesting experiences was staying in a Dai village in Xishuangbanna – the tropical southern part of Yunnan. Accompanied by the convenor of the subject, Dr Anne McMillan, the students walked two hours through the mountains to the village. In the village, everyone was billeted in a family home, visited the local school, enjoyed the locally produced excellent food, took part Dr Anne Mcmillan (fourth from left standing) with Griffith students and villagers in Xishuangbanna in village activities and generally found this unique experience to be a highlight of the China visit – even considering they had to walk two hours to get back to transportation at the end of the stay! The photo was taken on the day of departure outside the house of the Village Headman. Recent publications from members of the Griffith Asia Institute Dr Kaye Broadbent’s article entitled, “For Women, By Women Women-only unions in Japan”, appeared in Japan Forum (a UK journal) vol. 17 no. 2 June/July 2005. Dr Tom Conley has written a review of foreign policy entitled “Issues in Australian Foreign Policy” for the Australian Journal of Politics and History, July-December 2004 and has been invited to give a paper entitled “Globalisation and the Politics of the Possible” at the Building an Alternative World Conference in Adelaide between 18-21 April 2005. Dr Moazzem Hossain has written a journal article, a book chapter and book review as follows: Hossain M (2005), “Price control regulation of privatized utilities in the United Kingdom:what lessons for the developing Asian nations?”, The Singapore Economic Review, vol. 50, no. 1 (Feb), 124, World Scientific Publishing Company; Graham C and Hossain M (2004), “United Kingdom: Economic and regulatory issues of telecommunications reform”, in Brown, Hossain and Nguyen eds Telecommunications Reform in the Asia-Pacific Region, pp. 33-62, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham and Northampton.; Review of “The Experience of Middle Australia: The Dark Side of Economic Reform” by Michael Pusey, New York, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. The review was published in Pacific Affairs (An International Review of Asia and the Pacific), vol. 77, no. 3 (Fall), 610-12, 2004, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Dr Julie Howell’s presentation to the public seminar series of the Paramadina Foundation’s Nurcholish Madjid has been included in a volume of papers by him and other leading Indonesian liberal Muslim scholars. Details: (Jan. 2005) “Sufisme dan Islam Liberal” [“Sufism and Liberal Islam”]. In Islam, Negara dan Civil Society: Gerakan dan Pemikiran Islam Kontemporer [Islam, State and Civil Society: Contemporary Islamic Movements and Thought]. Jakarta: Paramadina. Professor Yan Islam’s article, “Europe Envy in Asia”, Journal of Asian Economics, vol. 14, no. 6, February 18, 2004, was also included in the journal Foreign Policy, September-October 2004. Professor Colin Mackerras has written a refereed journal article, “Some Issues of Ethnic and Religious Identity among China’s Islamic Peoples”, Asian Ethnicity, VI, 1 (February 2005), pp. 3-18, and a Web Report: “People’s Republic of China: Background Paper on the Situation of the Tibetan Population”, Writenet Independent Analysis, A Writenet Report commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Protection Information Section (DIP), web publication, February 2005, ii + 36 pp. Dr Andi Riege contributed to a book, International Marketing: An Asia Pacific Focus, published in 2005 by Wiley. Professor Michael Wesley contributed an article entitled “The Search for Moral Security” to the Autumn 2005 edition of Griffith Review 7 with the theme of “The Lure of Fundamentalism”. Griffith Review is published by ABC Books. GRIFFITH ASIA INSTITUTE PAGE 8 GRIFFITH ASIA INSTITUTE NEWSLETTER Jakarta Seminar on Indonesia’s Religious Pluralism In February Dr Julia Howell, a member of the Griffith Asia Institute, was invited to speak to the Indonesian Department of Religion’s Research and Development Unit (Litbang Agama) on “Marginal Religions and Changing Practices of Religious Pluralism in Indonesia”. Since the Bali bombing of 2002, Australians have become more concerned about their neighbour Indonesia’s commitment to religious pluralism. Australians familiar with Indonesia know that, although around nine out of ten Indonesians are Muslims, Indonesia is not an Islamic state. Instead, five religions are officially recognised by the state and are given at least nominal government support. However, since the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, extremist Muslim groups have been operating openly, and some parties have advocated amending the Constitution to enable the state to enforce Islamic law. These developments have tarnished Indonesia’s otherwise welldeserved reputation for promoting tolerant forms of Islam. But there’s another side of the story. While a minority of Indonesian Muslims are becoming more intolerant, others, particularly middle-class and elite urbanities, are educating themselves in moderate and liberal approaches to their religion. Some are even opening up to spiritual techniques and ideas from other religions. They’re also investigating new products from the global “spiritual marketplace” and patronising local groups inspired by the international “New Age” movement. Dr Howell’s research on these developments is supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant. Dr Julia Howell speaking at the Seminar in Jakarta. Beside her is Dr Marzani Anwar from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences Retirement of Professor Colin Mackerras It was a sad day when Professor Colin Mackerras, a member of Griffith Asia Institute, retired at the end of 2004. At the age of just 34, Colin was named a Foundation Professor of Australia’s first School of Modern Asian Studies here at Griffith University in 1973. His contributions as a scholar, teacher, colleague and administrator have embodied the very best in the Griffith spirit. So it was no surprise when numerous colleagues, past and present, participated in a festschrift conference organised by the Griffith Asia Institute to mark Colin’s contribution to the study of China (see article on page 3). Even more familiar faces returned for a recent farewell held in the Campus Club at Nathan. Colin was characteristically gracious in his speech, suggesting Griffith had influenced him more than he had influenced the University. He praised Nathan as “the most beautiful campus in the country” and promised to stay involved with the University as its latest emeritus professor. Professor Colin Mackerras with Professor Glyn Davis, Vice Chancellor of Griffith University at the celebration workshop in November 2004 So the impromptu Wagner arias in his office seem set to continue. Australian Studies Conference in China A Griffith delegation comprising Professor Colin Mackerras, Professor Mark Finnane and Dr Regina Ganter attended the 9th Conference of the Chinese Association of Australian Studies in Xuzhou from the 6-12 November. This was the largest representation from an Australian university and reflects the long-standing Exchange Agreement between Griffith and Beijing Foreign Studies University. Numerous students and staff have benefited from the Exchange Agreement since it was negotiated nearly 25 years ago by Professor Mackerras, the first such arrangement between an Australian and a Chinese University. (At right) A group of participants at the Ninth International Conference of Australian Studies in China, taken outside a major archaeological find in Xuzhou from the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to 200 A.D.). First on the back right is Professor Mark Finnane, and first on the front right is Dr Regina Ganter. Third and fourth on the right back are Professors Colin Mackerras and Du Xuezeng, currently the President of the Chinese Australian Studies Association.