Engaging Asia: Australia and the Asian Century

This course continues the long legacy of the Australian National University’s ambitious Asia programs, which were created more than 75 years ago to support the Australian Government's?post-war?national re-orientation toward Asia. Australia's engagement with the region continues to fluctuate, but it is also true to say, it is not getting easier. The central question this course asks is: how can Australia successfully engage more with Asia? The course is divided into two main parts: i) Australia’s history and links with Asia, and ii) Asia’s current and predicted trajectory and what this means for Australia. It is suitable for students looking to understand more about the ‘rise’ of Asia, but also the shifting nature of Australia’s place in the region and the world. It involves an examination of the changing nature of Australia’s relationship with the Asian region. It utilises cases studies from government, business, trade, media, digital start-ups, education, NGOs, environmental, migration and other people-to-people links. The course provides a conceptual understanding and debates of the Australia-Asia relationship through terms like ‘people-to-people links’, ‘Asia literacy’, ‘Asian engagement’ and the growing literature around the role of ‘Asian-Australian’ diaspora. The course will be of particular interest to students intending to pursue a career in Asia, but also for those looking to build up expertise for practical work of?a number of?government and non-government organisations dealing with Asian issues, such as NGO and development organisations, education, media, public policy, trade, business, foreign affairs and think tanks.