Prof. Joanne Wallis1, Prof Jack Corbett1, Prof Shahar Hameiri1, Ms Maima Koro1, Mr William Waqavakatoga1, Dr Henrietta McNeill1, Mr Priestley Habru1, Dr Kerryn Baker1, Dr Liam Moore1
1University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Biography:
Joanne Wallis is Professor of International Security in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Adelaide
Jack Corbett is a Professor and Head of the School of Social Sciences at Monash University
Shahar Hameiri is a Professor in the School of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Queensland
Maima Koro is Pacific Research Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Adelaide
William Waqavakatoga is a PhD scholar in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Adelaide
Henrietta McNeill is a Research Fellow in the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University
Priestly Habru is a PhD scholar in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Adelaide
Kerryn Baker is Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Adelaide
Liam Moore is a Lecturer in International Politics and Policy at James Cook University
Abstract:
The Australian Government describes the Pacific Islands region as Australia’s ‘Pacific family’ and is implementing a range of policies to enhance its role and relationships in the region in the context of growing anxiety about strategic competition. Yet Australia-based Political Science and International Relations scholars who study the Pacific are at the periphery of these academic disciplines. This is partly because the Australian study of politics and international relations remains captivated by ideas and methods emanating from Europe and the United States. Although many scholars apply these ideas and methods to studying Australia’s region, they invariably focus on Asia and studying the Pacific has long been perceived to be a career-limiting move. The marginalisation of Australian-based scholars who work on the Pacific has also been partly due to structural factors, with employment in the public service or private consulting – often better paid, more reliable, and/or with better work/life balance – offering a more attractive alternative. Participants on this roundtable will use a draft article by Jack Corbett and Joanne Wallis as a leaping off point to discuss the future of Political Science and IR scholarship about the Pacific in Australia: is it still on the margins? How could more scholars be encouraged to study the Pacific and what do they need to understand before they do? How can collaboration with scholars based in the Pacific be deepened? Should Australian-based scholars – especially non-Pacific ones – even study the region?