Global Politics

Chinatown was established in Melbourne in 1854, 20 years after the city started. It is located in Little Bourke St, and has a long history of supporting the local Chinese community. Dr Sophie Couchman (Curator at the Chinese Museum (Melbourne), Honorary Research Fellow, History, La Trobe University) talks about history, culture, and influences of Melbourne's Chinatown. Follow Sophie Couchman on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiecouchman Follow Matt Smith on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nightlightguy Follow Chinese Museum, Melbourne on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chinese_Museum Copyright 2016 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

Art therapy is a theraputic mental health inititiative from the western world, but it has now been incorporated into mental health initiatives in the Pacific Island nation of Samoa. Dr Patricia Fenner (Public Health, La Trobe University) talks about the program success and the strong influence Samoan community and culture has played in it. Follow Jasmine-Kim Westendorf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jasminekimw Copyright 2016 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

It's been 15 years since the United Nations Security Council resolution on women, peace and security. Despite all the efforts there is still a lot of disappointment that women are still so excluded from peace processes. Dr Meenakshi Gopinath (Founder and Honorary Director of WISCOMP) talks to Dr Jasmine-Kim Westendorf (International Relations, La Trobe University) about how and why women should be included and encouraged in conflict resolution. Follow Jasmine-Kim Westendorf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jasminekimw Copyright 2016 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

At the end of World War II, Japan adopted Article 9 into their constitution, aspiring to international peace and not having a standing army. Pacifism became part of the Japanese identity, but this could change with recent legislation. Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) and Matt Smith discuss the recent constitution changes and what it could mean for Japanese society. Follow Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley Follow Matt Smith on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nightlightguy

America has an interesting relationship with many Asian countries - on the surface there is polite co-operation and trade, but always with a wary attitude. Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) and Dr Kumuda Simpson (International Relations, La Trobe University) speaks to Matt Smith about United States and their interaction with Asian states. Recorded in front of a live audience on 11th November, 2015. Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley Kumuda Simpson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kumudasimpson

Now an independent democracy, Timor-Leste is struggling to renegotiate treaties and agreements with neighbouring countries, particularly water territories with Australia which could give them better access to dwindling oil fields. Dr Bec Strating (Department of Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) on Timor-Leste's motives and challenges in the Timor Gap. Bec Strating on Twitter: www.twitter.com/becstrating Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

Malcolm Turnbull has been the prime minister of Australia for two months, and while he hasn't made significant political moves regarding Asia, we can predict what kind of leadership he might bring. John Garnaut (Fairfax's Asia Editor) speaks to Professor Nick Bisley (executive director, La Trobe Asia) about the change in political tone Turnbull will bring towards Asia. Recorded in front of a live audience on 11th November, 2015. John Garnaut on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jgarnaut Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

2014 was a watershed year in Australia-India relations. Not only had Modi and Abbott struck up a great rapport, the two countries' economic, strategic and political stars appeared finally to have aligned. Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) looks at Australia and India's relationship. Have all the roadblocks been cleared, and do their interests align in quite the way the optimists think? Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

China has announced a relaxing of the family planning policy, with a change of the existing law to a two-child policy beginning March 2016. Dr James Leibold (Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University) discusses how the one-child policy has impacted China, if it was effective, and whether the change will come in time. Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.

When we talk about the Asia what is the adjective referring to? Is it culture, geography, or somewhere in between? Assoc. Professor Andrew Phillips (Reader in International Relations and Strategy, University of Queensland) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) about the broad implications of that single word. Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.