Asia-Pacific Development & Security
Exploring our corner of the world
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.
Research themes
Gender, religion and development
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
Infrastructure development and its local impact
Our research explores the development and human security impacts deriving from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, IT and Ecommerce development in Southeast Asia
Human security and development
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
Military politics, democracy and human rights
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
China and Asia-Pacific security
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
Publications
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- Gambia vs Myanmar: The Last Best Hope for the Rohingya? – Dr Morten Pedersen
- The Roots of the Rohingya Refugee Crisis – Dr Morten Pedersen
- Narratives of Muslim Womanhood and Women’s Agency – Minako Sakai and Samina Yasmeen
- Disaster Relief in Asia Pacific: Agency and Resilience – Edited by Minako Sakai, Edwin Jurriëns, Jian Zhang, Alec Thornton
Our researchers
Deputy Head of School (Research) Associate Professor in Indonesian Studies and Southeast Asian Social Inquiry
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Head of School, School of Social Sciences and Co-Convener, Gendered Violence Research Network (GVRN)
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