China’s Communist Party is known to prize loyalty and conformity among its more than 90 million members. If good policies are forged through deliberation and debate, how does the CCP handle the weighing of opinions, counter-proposals and objections while ensuring ideological purity? And how does a party member of good will conscientiously object? Dr Chris Buckley, chief China correspondent for The New York Times, examines decision-making and dissent in the Party with presenter Ali Moore. An Asia...
Feb 16, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 103
As Australia’s relationship with China continues to sour, it should come as no surprise that Canberra is bolstering security ties with New Delhi. Additionally, the two governments are working hard to forge a comprehensive trade agreement. But is a mutual suspicion of Beijing a sound basis for closer ties? What are the real issues that bind -- and separate -- India and Australia? And who will be the winners and losers of any bilateral free-trade deal? Australia-India Institute CEO the Hon. Lisa S...
Feb 01, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 102
As US president, Donald Trump rewrote the rule book for dealing with China, breaking norms enshrined in bilateral relations since the days of Richard Nixon. Yet even Trump’s harshest critics have since warmed to his assertive, unconventional approach to Beijing, and there’s now recognition that there is no return to the China policy of old. But was this radical reshaping really down to Trump, or was it somehow inevitable given China's inexorable rise as an economic and military power? Professor ...
Jan 18, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 101
Despite being well into his final term as Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo continues his coalition building, and retains the backing of political and business elites. And, while critics point to poor pandemic management and eroding democracy under his watch, Jokowi remains very popular with ordinary Indonesians. So why is Jokowi still actively amassing political capital, and how does his actual agenda compare to the social and political reform he's promised voters? Indonesia watchers Prof Tim ...
Dec 14, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 100
For many, outgoing Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte will be remembered for his call for the extra-judicial killings of alleged drug dealers. He's also gone after his critics in the media, the judiciary, and the legislature. But despite his apparent excesses, Duterte remains popular with ordinary Filipinos. What's been the basis for his enduring popularity? And what are the long term consequences of his attacks on the nation’s democratic institutions? Philippines historian Dr Lisandro Claudi...
Nov 21, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 99
In Japan, the norms of human connection and physical intimacy are evolving, with arranged marriages on the wane, and defacto relationships and same-sex unions no longer rare. As the nature of unions changes, so is the practice of parting, with increases in late-life and women-initiated divorces. What’s driving these societal changes in Japan? How are Japan’s legislators responding? Gender studies specialist Assoc Prof Claire Maree and cultural anthropologist Assoc Prof Allison Alexy join present...
Nov 01, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 98
What's at stake and who are the stakeholders in steering health policy in Indonesia? While the right to health for all Indonesians has been embraced by progressive, populist and technocratic political forces in recent years, oligarchic elites with ties to business and the military are now reemerging to thwart further improvements in healthcare for ordinary people. Political economist Prof Andrew Rosser and public policy specialist Dr Luky Djani join presenter Peter Clarke to examine the politics...
Oct 10, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 97
While relations between China and Australia have been on a protracted downward spiral, with on-the-ground issues continuing to hamper bilateral ties, how much of the impasse is down to a mutually poor grasp of the opposite number? China legal veteran Dr Andrew Godwin and China political scientist Assoc Prof Delia Lin make the case that an appreciation of how concepts of law and justice differ between Australia and China may help get relations onto a better footing. With presenter Ali Moore. An A...
Sep 20, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 96
India has been slipping down the league tables of democratic health recently, with concerns over persistent crackdowns on dissent by the Hindu nationalist-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Just how robust is the nation’s democracy? How does India reconcile its membership in coalitions of democracies, such as the Quad, with criticism at home over the erosion of religious and media freedoms? And why should the world care about rising illiberalism in India? Political scientist Dr Prad...
Sep 06, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 95
In Japan, slender bodies are prized and body size is regarded as a personal responsibility. Meanwhile, Japan’s government views the trend of increasing average body weight as a public health problem. In this social milieu, how do those with non-conforming body sizes feel about themselves? How is Japan’s conception of body image changing? Gender studies researcher Assoc Professor Claire Maree and cultural anthropologist Dr Cindi SturtzSreetharan examine the relationships between body size, body i...
Aug 22, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 94
China’s natural environment has paid a high price for the nation’s economic success. And despite the Chinese government’s aversion to collective action, there are NGOs working hard to save the environment. So how do NGOs operate in this milieu? How much of Beijing’s recent concern for the environment is owed to the actions of civil society? Human geographer Professor Mark Wang and political scientist Associate Professor Fengshi Wu examine the state of environmental politics in China with present...
Aug 01, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 93
India’s caste system remains alive and thriving, both in India and in its global diaspora. Seven decades after the passing of laws to fight discrimination, caste continues to dictate who Indians can marry, their prospects for education and jobs, and even where they may live. Caste’s pernicious effects also extend to businesses, from Mumbai to Silicon Valley, holding sway over both individual careers and corporate performance. Prof Hari Bapuji and Dr Dolly Kikon join presenter Ali Moore to discus...
Jul 16, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 92
For Australia, proficiency in the languages of its major Asian trading partners can yield important insights into what makes those societies and economies tick. But does Australia possess the linguistic skills for deep engagement with the region? And what will it take to get more Australians to take up Asian languages? Prof Melissa Crouch and Dr Lewis Mayo join presenter Ali Moore to examine the opportunities and challenges in learning the languages of Asia. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced ...
Jun 29, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 91
China and Russia are now arguably closer than they've ever been, with rapidly growing military and economic cooperation. Will the strength of these ties herald the end of U.S. hegemony in the Western Pacific? And do the two authoritarian giants share a vision by which they can reshape the world? International relations experts Professor Elizabeth Wishnick and Dr Alexander Korolev take a deep dive into Sino-Russian solidarity with presenter Peter Clarke. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced and e...
Jun 04, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Australia is finding itself increasingly torn between its largest trading partner, China, and its long-time ally, the United States. So, what is the value vs the cost of Australia’s alliance with the US? And what will it take to repair relations with China? International strategy expert Professor Michael Wesley examines this geopolitical triangle with presenter Ali Moore. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced and edited by Profactual - the Podcasting Specialists . Music by audionautix.com....
May 07, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 89
Colonialism has often left diverse and mutually hostile ethnic groups trapped inside a common national border. In Asia, countries like Myanmar and Sri Lanka have played out their unresolved ethnic divisions in prolonged civil unrest and bloodshed. How can ethnically splintered nations find a way forward? Can federalism be utilised to ease conflict and promote stability? Asia governance experts Prof Baogang He and Dr Michael Breen dive into the details with presenter Ali Moore. An Asia Institute ...
Apr 23, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 88
Afghanistan’s Taliban is poised to take the reins in Kabul with the looming withdrawal of US troops. Although dependent on Pakistan in the past, the Taliban are now more geopolitically savvy. So what influence would Islamabad have in a new Taliban-led Afghanistan? And what can the world expect from a Taliban 2.0 government? South Asia observers Assoc Prof Matthew Nelson and Dr Zahid Ahmed join Ali Moore to discuss Afghanistan’s possible futures. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced and edited by...
Apr 09, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 87
While traitors are despised in most societies, the preferred term in China, hànjiān, is not only highly charged but also takes on ethno-centric dimensions. So how has the Chinese concept of the traitor been put to political use by China’s post-dynastic governments? And what is regarded as treasonous behaviour in contemporary China? Dr Craig Smith and Dr Matthew Galway dive into the details with presenter Ali Moore. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced and edited by Profactual - the Podcasting Sp...
Mar 19, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 86
India is the world’s largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines despite having the world’s second highest caseload of coronavirus. What are India’s motivations for this bold move? Will India have enough vaccines for its 1.3+ billion people, and what does India’s apparent generosity say about the vaccine nationalism of the west? Political scientist Dr Pradeep Taneja and health policy researcher Dr Azad Bali join presenter Ali Moore to examine India’s vaccine diplomacy. An Asia Institute podcast . Produce...
Mar 02, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 85
How do people at the intersection of LGBTQIA+ and Asian ethnicity fare when migrating to Australia, why do they choose to make their lives here, and what challenges do they face as they seek genuine inclusion? Associate Prof Claire Maree and Dr Jay Song, both of Asia Institute, examine their lived experiences and life challenges. Presented by Ali Moore. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced and edited by Profactual the Podcasting Specialists . Music by audionautix.com....
Feb 19, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 84
While the majority of the 650,000+ China-born people living in Australia are here permanently, most choose to forgo Australian citizenship. So how do members of Australia’s mainland Chinese community view themselves, and how are they viewed by others -- particularly now that the relationship between Canberra and Beijing is at an ebb? Asia Institute researchers Dr Sow Keat Tok and Dr Qiuping Pan examine the lived experiences of this group with presenter Ali Moore. An Asia Institute podcast . Prod...
Feb 05, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 83
Although Mandarin is the national language of China, it remains incomprehensible to 20% of the population. Beijing is now pushing the use of Mandarin hard among ethnic minorities, but while fluency in the common tongue brings economic benefits, what is the cost to the native languages and identities of those affected? Dr Lewis Mayo and Dr Gerald Roche discuss the state of play for languages in China. Presented by Peter Clarke. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced and edited by Profactual - the P...
Jan 14, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 82
China has been punishing Australia via trade sanctions and social media for actions taken by Australia’s government that Beijing regards as part of a US-led strategy to contain its rise. How is Australia to balance its loyalty to its longtime ally, the United States, with the demands of its biggest economic partner, the ascendant China? Former Australian ambassador to China, Dr Geoff Raby, examines how Australia can navigate the uncharted waters of a changing global order. Presented by Ali Moore...
Dec 02, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 81
While Indonesia’s new, so-called Job Creation Law was sold to the public as essential to boosting employment by reducing red tape, it has sparked continued outrage among workers, trade unionists, environmentalists and religious organisations. What are the concerns over how this omnibus law was passed, and who are the real winners and losers? Indonesia observers Prof Tim Lindsey and Dr Ian Wilson scrutinize this hallmark legislation with presenter Ali Moore. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced a...
Nov 17, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 80
Many citizens of Hong Kong fear the recently imposed National Security Law is only the latest move by Beijing to wind back civil liberties promised to last till 2047. But what does China’s growing impatience mean for Hong Kongers? How will these changes affect business in the bustling metropolis? China watchers Dr Sow Keat Tok and Dr Kevin Carrico discuss the impact of this far reaching law with presenter Peter Clarke. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced and edited by Profactual - the Podcastin...
Oct 27, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 79
The constitutions of both Pakistan and Malaysia enshrine Islam as the state religion while also protecting individuals’ rights to freedom of worship. So how do their seemingly parallel legal systems of common law and Sharia jurisprudence operate when it comes to matters of Muslim identity? Dr Matthew Nelson from Asia Institute and Dr Dian Shah from the National University of Singapore Law School examine the question of who decides who is -- and who must be -- a Muslim. Presented by Ali Moore. An...
Oct 05, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 78
India and China have been at odds over their common border for over a century, and this year’s deadly military skirmishes are further dashing hopes of a resolution. So why are there such high stakes over barren terrain high in the Himalayas? What would it take to dissolve the intransigence on both sides? Political scientist Dr Pradeep Taneja and security analyst Assoc Prof Jingdong Yuan examine the high-altitude acrimony with presenter Ali Moore. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced and edited b...
Sep 17, 2020•43 min•Season 1Ep. 77
Turkey is increasingly intervening militarily in the territories of several of its Middle East neighbours, while relations with other regional players are souring. This is in stark contrast to their “zero problems with neighbouring countries” strategy of only a decade ago. Turkish affairs analysts Dr Tezcan Gümüş and Iain MacGillivray discuss Turkey’s motives in its new foreign policy direction, and examine the economic and political costs of interventionism. Presented by Ali Moore. An Asia Inst...
Sep 02, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 76
For Vietnamese hunting economic opportunities abroad, it turns out Russia is a popular choice. Entering on short stay visas and overstaying sometimes for decades, they typically find work in urban market complexes, and in some cases resort to illegal activities to make ends meet. So what draws the Vietnamese to Russia? What are their day-to-day lives like? And given their insecure immigration status, what are their prospects in the long term? International development expert Dr Lan Anh Hoang sha...
Aug 17, 2020•37 min•Season 1Ep. 75
In Asia as elsewhere, whom statues commemorate and whom they overlook comes down to power and politics. And while the early post-colonial period was the heyday of statue building in the newly minted countries of Asia, the practice is alive and well today with ever larger and more expensive statues being erected. Asia historians Dr Ruth Gamble and Dr Lewis Mayo join host Ali Moore to ponder the complex relationship between State and statue. An Asia Institute podcast. Produced and edited by profac...
Aug 02, 2020•40 min•Season 1Ep. 74
