121-103 Australia in Asia

Formerly available as 121-011. Students who have completed 121-011 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. This subject is recommended for students wishing to complete a major in Australian studies.

This subject critically evaluates the question 'Is Australia part of Asia?'. It does so through a range of topics that reveal the complex and varied relationships that exist between Australia and the Asian region: relationships that might variously be described as indifferent, fearful and, more recently, outright enthusiastic. How have these relationships been constituted? How can we account for the changes evident in these relations? These questions are explored through the following topics: newly industrialised nations and reforming socialist economies in Asia; Australia's economic turn to Asia; trade links; geopolitical agreements and treaties; regional images and stereotypes; migration patterns; tourism links; and overseas aid agreements. By the end of the subject students should understand Australia's efforts to re-position itself in relation to Asia; how diverse and changing the Asian region is, and how this influences the region's relationships with Australia; the various ways in which Asia and Australia are linked. Students will also become familiar with relevant concepts in human geography which will assist them in making sense of this complex regional relationship, including globalisation and regionalism, political and economic restructuring, ideas of national and regional identity, and transnationalism. Students will also learn a range of practical skills relevant to human geography and related social science disciplines, including the analysis of census and other statistical data, interpretative analytic skills, and critical thinking.