Asia Rising

For the most part, China has seen Australia as an especially agreeable and non-troubling partner, as a predictable American security ally but with a friendly twist. This is changing, and the pressure is intensifying for Australia to rebuild its standings with Beijing.

Find out more about the La Trobe Asia Brief on Australia-China relations.

Guest:

Follow La Trobe Asia on Twitter: www.twitter.com/latrobeasia

Recorded 30 May, 2019.

Over the past decade the city of Chengdu, capital of the Sichuan province, has emerged as the most important Tibetan city in China. Various forms of financial, political, and symbolic capital have come together, converging in Chendgu, creating a centre for social mobilisation around the production of Tibetanness.

Guest:

Recorded 14 June, 2019.

The collapse of Polonnaruva marked the end of the lowland kingdoms in Sri Lanka's arid north, and the end of a distinctive and successful form of hydraulic low-density urban settlement.

Although historically understood as the result of Indian invasion, recent research at Anuradhapura has suggested the very economic system that enabled these kingdoms to flourish within a marginal environment, may have facilitated their collapse.

Guest:

Recorded 3 June, 2019.

Nusantaria – often referred to as 'Maritime Southeast Asia' – is the world's largest archipelago and has, for centuries, been a vital cultural and trading hub. These have long been primarily the domain of the Austronesian-speaking peoples and their seafaring traditions. The surrounding waters have always been uniquely important as a corridor connecting East Asia to India, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Guest:

Book: Empire of the Winds: The Global Role of Asia’s Great Archipelago by Philip Bowring, published by Tauris.

Recorded 7 May, 2019.

Can a grand bargain be reached between the United States and China? For the past 40 years the United States dominance of East Asia remained acknowledged and relatively uncontested, but now times have changed. China is a force to be reckoned with, and current American leadership can be seen as slightly ambivalent about challenging a change in the balance of power.

Guest:

Book: After American Primacy Imagining the Future of Australia’s Defence, published by Melbourne University Press.

Recorded 26 April, 2019.

On 17 April, Indonesians headed to the polls in one of the largest democratic elections in the world.

President Joko Widodo seems assured of a second term, with a quick count announcing a win by around 9-10 percentage points.

In this panel discussion, three Indonesia experts will analyse the outcome of the elections, examine what went right and what went wrong for the presidential candidates and political parties, and look at the road ahead for the elected president and Indonesia itself.

Panelists:

Chair:

Presented at the La Trobe University City Campus on 1 May, 2019.

The India/Pakistan relationship has rarely been an easy one, with the two disagreeing on everything from territory, cricket, and who is the rightful owner of the Kohinoor diamond.

At times it spills into open conflict which can easily escalate, but who benefits from such a tense relationship, and should the world be concerned?

Guest:

Recorded 19 March, 2019.

Indonesians head to the polls on April 17 in one of the largest democratic elections in the world. Joko Widodo will once again face Prabowo Subianto, so how have the candidates changed in that time, and how is the election shaping up?

Guest:

Recorded on 9th April 2019

Almost no question is of greater significance for Australia’s future than the emergence of China as an economic and military great power. Does the rise of China pose a threat to the security of Australia? If so, a threat of what kind?

Speakers:

Chair:

Introduced by:

Presented in association with the Ideas and Society Program at the State Library of Victoria on 6th March, 2019.

La Trobe University's incoming Chancellor explains his views on the importance of engaging Asia, and China in particular. Australia and China enjoy a strong relationship in trade and education. Does this present any conflicts with the authoritarian nature of China’s regime, and our alliance with the United States, given the growing antagonism between Washington and Beijing?

Guest:

Recorded on the 19th February 2019