Asia and the Pacific in Motion

This course offers an interdisciplinary introduction to the Asia-Pacific region, encompassing its rich cultural, ecological, and political diversity. In the first half of the course, students will engage deeply with Indigenous Australian cultures, histories, and knowledge systems. Emphasis is placed on First Peoples’ perspectives – including the continuing significance of kinship, language, and connection to Country – and the agency of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in pursuing cultural autonomy and resurgence . The second half of the course broadens the scope to examine key factors shaping the Asia-Pacific region, including histories and ongoing transformations driven by colonialism, post-colonialism, capitalism, and globalisation . Through a relational ontological lens, students will investigate how these forces manifest across national and local contexts and their impacts on landscapes, livelihoods, and identities. Specific topics include treaties and policymaking, urbanisation, agrarian change, development discourse, democracy, power and resistance, nation-making, diaspora communities, and multiculturalism. ASIA1030 is one of two core foundational courses in the Bachelor of Asian Studies program. No prior knowledge of Asia or the Pacific is required, making it suitable for students seeking to deepen their understanding of the region or explore the influence of global forces through relational and diplomatic perspectives in Asian and Pacific contexts . The course combines critical discussion of key regional themes with case studies presented by a diverse range of experts, including leading academics and Traditional Owners from across Australia, who share their knowledge through lectures and interactive sessions. Through interdisciplinary engagement and respectful, informed dialogue, students will develop foundational conceptual and analytical tools and an enhanced capacity for cultural sensitivity and self-awareness, enabling them to navigate complex political and cultural situations with empathy and insight.