Research in Government and International Relations

Government and International Relations has a vigorous research program spanning all parts of the discipline of political science. As befits the oldest grouping of political science scholars in the country, we have a long record of research in public policy, both in the Australian context and internationally. Among the substantive policy areas are welfare policy, family policy, crisis policy, foreign policy, and foreign economic policy. Public sector management and public expenditure management also feature prominently. Our research is internationally oriented and sensitive to the international environment, even when it is domestically focused. This is apparent in the public policy work referred to above, and equally in discipline-based research that concentrates on globalisation and governance.

The political and economic impacts of globalisation are immense, and their effects have been an important focus of research in the Discipline. In particular, there has been strong work done on the politics of international economic relations, on the role and functions of international organisations like the World Bank and UN, and on domestic responses to international pressures. Such pressures have led to significant domestic restructuring within nation states, including in the nature of government-business relations, and this has been an important strand of our research.

Linked to this is a major interest in issues of risk and security. At one level, this focuses upon issues on a global scale, including international security, conflict and terrorism. This embraces not just the old politics of nation states, but also the new politics in which non-state actors are the primary participants. At another level, it focuses upon more immediate issues of risk and security. The political analysis of business and investment risk is crucial for the functioning of business in both national and international arenas, while social risk, in terms of social security and welfare, are of immediate direct personal concern to millions of people across the world.

Political regimes and regime change are another major focus of our research program. Substantial work has been done on democratisation, especially in the post-communist world and Southeast Asia, and on the comparative politics
of democratic states. Electoral systems and political parties are an important part of this work. This is complemented by work on democratic theory, both of the classical and applied kind, and human rights. In these ways, our research
spans both the domestic and international arenas, and picks up on the most pressing issues of the day as well as those more long term issues that shape the conditions of human existence.