The Australia-Netherlands Research Collaboration (ANRC)

21 March-24 March 2010
Studying 'spaces of non-existence': Methodological concerns
location: Perth
contact: I.Wilson[at]murdoch.edu.au
Workshop convened by Dr Ian Wilson from Murdoch University, Dr Barak Kalir from University of Amsterdam and Mr Luky Djani from Indonesia Corruption Watch.
Summary
Anthropologists, criminologists and other social researchers have been increasingly drawn in recent years to the study of 'spaces of non-existence', i.e. spaces of invisibility, exclusion, repression, exploitation, and violence. Yet the methodological, ethical, legal and practical challenges of conducting research in such spaces are rarely discussed in a systematic fashion. This workshop seeks to document and analyse the experiences of fieldworkers in such sites, in order: first, to produce a methodological textbook for students of 'spaces of nonexistence', and second, to promote a greater understanding and sensitivity among political and social actors for the role and importance of ethnographic research in the collection and analysis of data on charges social phenomena which receive none or very one-dimensional attention (namely, law enforcement) from the relevant authorities.

14 June-3 July 2010
Reading Dutch for Historical Research course
location: Kangaroo Island, SA
contact: helen.mcmartin[at]anu.edu.au

The course is intended for those needing a working knowledge of written Dutch for professional purposes, including the study of Asian history. The course is open to academics, professionals and current and intending postgraduate students from Australian institutions. The Call for Applications flyer is available from the following link.

Further details...

23 June-26 June 2010
Cultural Performance in post-New Order Indonesia: New structures, scenes, meanings
location: Yogyakarta
contact: Barbara.Hatley[at]utas.edu.au
Workshop convened by Prof Barbara Hatley from University of Tasmania, Dr Bart Barendregt from Leiden University and Dr Stanislaus Sunardi from Sanata Dharma University.
Summary
This project focuses on contemporary cultural performances in Indonesia – theatre and music, film, digital and video arts – produced in new formats, venues and arts events. Such performances emphasise local, grassroots identity and community, while also connecting through new electronic media with dispersed virtual audiences and international cultural flows. The workshop will explore expressions of the local and global and understandings of ‘community’ in varied performance formats and sites in different regions of Indonesia. It will assess how performances reflect post-Suharto political changes, and how they are shaped by transnational cultural flows and concern for creating community amidst the fluidity of modern life. One outcome of the workshop will be enhanced knowledge of how identity is understood and conveyed in different regions of Indonesia, and in what ways, ‘Indonesian-ness’ is expressed. Another will be highlighting Indonesia’s participation in international performance networks and cultural flows.

13 July-15 July 2010
Indigenous peoples and natural resource management: Towards new forms of governance
location: Denpasar
contact: persoon[at]cml.leidenuniv.nl
Workshop convened by Dr Gerard Persoon from Leiden University, Dr Carol Warren from Murdoch University and Prof Sulistyowati Irianto from University of Indonesia.
Summary
This workshop concerns research in the Philippines and Indonesia on indigenous peoples and resource management in contexts of legal pluralism and emergent environmental governance regimes. Following from the globalization of the indigenous peoples’ movement and granting of collective rights under new international conventions, complex legal systems are appearing with overlapping and often contrasting governance structures. The workshop will focus on this situation from a multidisciplinary perspective, considering social, cultural, legal and environmental aspects of indigenous rights and resource governance. It will examine case studies from the two countries and consider the role of academic research in policy formulation and implementation.