After the first year of government Narendra Modi has been presented with a number of challenges, both from within his own party and on a national and international stage.

In this episode of Asia Rising, Dr Ian Hall (School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) about Modi's first year as Prime Minister of India.

Follow on Twitter

Ian Hall: https://twitter.com/DrIanHall

Nick Bisley: www.twitter.com/NickBisley

Theme music: Asian Wonders by Butterfly Tea

Photo: World Economic Forum on Flickr

After years of civil unrest, will Nepal's struggling democracy survive the recent earthquake?

In this episode of Asia Rising, Dr Jasmine-Kim Westendorf (International Relations, La Trobe University) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) about Nepal's long road to democracy and future challenges.

Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley

Jasmine-Kim Westendorf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jasminekimw

Theme music: Asian Wonders by Butterfly Tea

Photo: SIM Central and South East Asia on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/110419464@N05/17290940465

When Joko Widido won the 2014 Indonesian election with a significant popular mandate there was high expectations of the change he would bring to the office.

In this episode of Asia Rising, Dr David McCrae (Asia Institute, University of Melbourne) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) about the effectiveness and difficulties facing Widodo's government.

Twitter:

David McCrae: twitter.com/_DaveMcRae_

Nick Bisley: www.twitter.com/nickbisley

Photo: World Economic Forum on Flickr

Theme music: Asian Wonders by Butterfly Tea

The imminent execution of two Australians by Indonesia due to drug related offenses has put a strain on relationships between the two countries, and presents challenges for the leadership of both Joko Widodo and Tony Abbott.

In this episode of Asia Rising, Dr David McCrae (Asia Institute, University of Melbourne) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) about the diplomatic tensions of capital punishment.

Twitter:

David McCrae: http://twitter.com/_DaveMcRae_

Nick Bisley: www.twitter.com/nickbisley

Theme music: Asian Wonders by Butterfly Tea

Regional authorities outlawed Islamic veils from all public spaces in the regional capital of China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) speaks to Dr James Leibold (Senior Lecturer, Chinese Politics and Asian Studies, La Trobe University) about the provocation and likelihood of this ban succeeding.

Follow Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley

Follow James Leibold on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jleibold

Theme music: Asian Wonders by Butterfly Tea

Photo: psit on Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/psit/5835659812)

How did Japan’s recent election play out for Shinzo Abe, and what can the country expect from his next term?

Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia) and Assistant Professor Christopher Hobson (School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University) discuss Japanese politics and the Fukushima disaster.

You can follow both speakers on Twitter:

Nick Bisley: www.twitter.com/nickbisley

Chris Hobson: www.twitter.com/hobson_c

Theme music: Asian Wonders by Butterfly Tea

Photo: Empty Fukushima, Google streetview.

Recent incidents involving surrogacy in Asian countries have shed light on a growing trend. Prospective parents are traveling to Asian countries with lower costs and less stringent laws, to engage the services of surrogate parents.

Discussing this issue is a panel of experts:

Professor Jenni Millbank, University of Technology, Sydney

Associate Professor Andrea Whittaker, ARC Future Fellow in Anthropology in the School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University

Associate Professor Kerry Petersen, La Trobe Law School

Dr Rhonda Powell, a human rights lawyer with particular interest in rights in pregnancy and birthing rights; Lecturer at University of Canterbury

Claire Achmad: PhD candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Leiden, The Netherlands

A look at the big events in Asia in the year 2014 - the elections of Modi in India and Jokowai in Indonesia, to the military coup of Thailand, the popular protests in Hong Kong, the tension in the East China Sea and the dominance of the Chinese economy.

Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley

Theme music: Asian Wonders by Butterfly Tea

On 22 July Joko Widodo was formally announced as the winner of Indonesia’s closely fought presidential election.

Dr Dirk Tomsa (Politics and International Relations at La Trobe University) and Dr David McRae, (Asia Institute, University of Melbourne) present this lecture on how and why Jokowi won, what kind of president he is likely to become, what his policy priorities are likely to be and what kind of international role Indonesia is likely to play under a president who has no experience in foreign policy. Introduced by Professor Nick Bisley.

You can follow the speakers on Twitter

David McCrae: www.twitter.com/_davemcrae_

Nick Bisley: www.twitter.com/nickbisley

Photo: Øystein Solvang/NHD on Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nhd-info/8218987937/

With Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi proving to be a big hit in Australia during the G20, Professor Nick Bisley (Excutive Director, La Trobe Asia) and Dr Ian Hall (Department of International Relations, ANU) take a look at his relationship with Australia and the impact he's making on the world stage.

Follow on Twitter

Nick Bisley: http://www.twitter.com/nickbisley

Ian Hall: http://www.twitter.com/drianhall

Theme music: Asian Wonders by Butterfly Tea