The Asia Pacific Development & Security Research Group are experts working on current significant socio-political changes affecting the Asia-Pacific region. Our researchers explore topics including gender, religion and development, as well as regional security issues, through interdisciplinary approaches including anthropology, development studies, history, political science and social policy.
Our group shares a broad research agenda with the UNSW Institute for Global Development (IGD), which aims to deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Asia Pacific Development and Security Research Group is led by Associate Professor Minako Sakai.
We explore how socio-cultural norms interact with the perceptions of equitable and just development in the Asia-Pacific region. Gender equality is an important research topic. How the emergent digital economy in Southeast Asia impacts upon women’s entrepreneurial activities is among our research concerns
Our research explores the development and human security impacts deriving from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, IT and Ecommerce development in Southeast Asia
Our research examines how significant social changes such as urbanisation, climate change and natural disasters have affected community resilience, food security, refugees, governance and social policy
We investigate political development processes with particular attention to the drivers and obstacles to change and the role of the international community in facilitating or inhibiting progress
Our research explores the external and internal drivers of China’s foreign and security policies, Chinese military modernisation, China’s relationship with countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands region including the implications for Australia’s strategic interests