About us

We are an interdisciplinary group of researchers with expertise in the field of activism, rights and justice. Our current work is organised around three key themes: activism and governance in the Asia Pacific region; relationships between art and activism; and interconnections between activism and ethics.

Activism in the Asia Pacific

The emergence of diverse forms of authoritarian governance across the Asia-Pacific region raises significant questions for human rights, social justice and democracy. This area of work explores how civil society actors navigate authoritarian spaces and build resilient societies. Our work considers the influence of different political systems in shaping modes of activism and provides social benefits by understanding Australia’s role within the Asia-Pacific in terms of activism and social change.

Key areas of expertise include: climate change, justice and activism in Hong Kong and Singapore (Sara Fuller); state-societal relations in Hong Kong and the role of activist and advocacy frames for law reform and social change (Amy Barrow); the changing nature of LGBT rights movements in Japan and the impact of these movements in Mainland China and the Philippines (Tom Baudinette).

Art and Activism

The role of art as a form of political activism is increasingly important as a mechanism for generating social and political change. Our work explores art as a mode of activism and its use in rights-based campaigns to advance justice. This comprises the study of artistic practice to chart the changing nature of activism within a global context, as well as discussing future trajectories and emerging challenges that may shape activism in the future.

Key areas of expertise include: activism in the context of spatial and social change, particularly sites of social conscience (Justine Lloyd); multi-modal forms of activism including the medium of graphic novels (Can Yalcinkaya); the use of Manga comics in Japan as a form of societal activism (Mio Bryce).

Ethics and Activism

The interconnections between ethics and activism are multifaceted. Our work explores the ethical implications of activism across diverse arenas as well as the meaning of political activism in terms of culture and identity. This also includes reflections on the role of ‘scholar-activists’ in theory and practice.

Key areas of expertise include: actors and strategies in Australian children’s rights activism (Isobelle Barrett-Meyering); activism around Aboriginal rights in terms of rights campaigns and campaigners (Alison Holland); the politics of food-based activism in the context of more-than-human approaches (Andrew McGregor); the tensions between academic scholarship and bioactivism with a focus on organ transplantation in China (Wendy Rogers).