Asia-Pacific Development & Security

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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

Sustainable Development Goals and Social Inclusion

Our research investigates how local socio-cultural norms and contexts interact with the Sustainable Development Goals. Social policy, gender, religion, urbanisation, digital economy, and forced migration in Asia Pacific are some of our research topics.

Environmental Futures

Our work is focused on improving law, public policy, local governance, and international cooperation to protect ecosystems and enhance community resilience, and mitigate the effects of human-caused environmental change. It also investigates the significant impact of climate change on communities.

Challenges in Asia Pacific Security and Development

The focus of our research is to examine the increasing regional tension and strategic security concerns in the Asia Pacific region, particularly in light of China's emergence as a significant player in the region. We examine traditional security concerns such as military modernisations, strategic security partnerships, diplomacy, and more.

Publications

Our researchers

Deputy Head of School (Research) Associate Professor in Indonesian Studies and Southeast Asian Social Inquiry Minako Sakai
Deputy Head of School (Research) Associate Professor in Indonesian Studies and Southeast Asian Social Inquiry
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Professor of Environmental Politics & International Relations Anthony Burke
Professor of Environmental Politics & International Relations
Professor of International Law and International Relations Shirley Scott
Professor of International Law and International Relations
Professor of International Law and Security Douglas Guilfoyle
Professor of International Law and Security
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Associate Professor of History  David Lee
Associate Professor of History
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Senior Lecturer Tristan Moss
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Senior Lecturer Gavin Mount
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Senior Lecturer in International and Political Studies Morten Pedersen
Senior Lecturer in International and Political Studies
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Program Convenor of Indonesian Studies  Nicolaas Warouw
Program Convenor of Indonesian Studies
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Associate Dean (Education)  Jian Zhang
Associate Dean (Education)
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Lecturer in Cyber Security Sally Burt
Lecturer in Cyber Security
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Eugene Simonov
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Menghu Xia
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Visiting Fellow Ashok Sharma
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 Amelia Fauzia
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Associate Dean (Lifelong Learning) and Professor in Public Sector Management Strategy Deborah Blackman
Associate Dean (Lifelong Learning) and Professor in Public Sector Management Strategy
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Professor Satish Chand
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Senior Lecturer Intercultural Management and Entrepreneurship Nelia Hyndman-Rizk
Senior Lecturer Intercultural Management and Entrepreneurship
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Associate Dean (International) Felix Tan
Associate Dean (International)
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