Historical ethnography and the study of elites (Rod Rhodes, Southampton)
Seminar
In principle, it is possible to observe British elites in action, but such access is rare. Therefore, Rhodes’s study of court politics is not ethnographic in the conventional sense as it does not rely on participant observation or deep immersion. However, it still seeks to understand the webs of…
The Art of State Persuasion: China's Strategic Use of Media in Interstate Disputes
Seminar
Why do nations actively publicise previously overlooked disputes, and why does domestic mobilisation sometimes fail to lead to aggressive policy?The Art of State Persuasion explores China’s strategic use of state propaganda during crises, revealing why certain disputes are amplified while others…
Hopes and disappointments: assessing institutional change in the federal parliament since the Jenkins Review
Seminar
In November 2021 the Human Rights Commission presented its report called the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces (known as the Jenkins Review). The Review was a response to reports of misconduct towards staff, which brought a new focus on the role of parliamentarians as…
Out of Harm’s Way: How Australian Music Venues and DIY Events Make Safe Spaces (Emma Crocker, ANU)
Seminar
Australian music venues, bars, and DIY (do-it-yourself) music events post ‘safe space’ policies to walls, Instagram pages, and bathroom doors. These policies invite event attendees to think of themselves as being within a distinct safe space. What differentiates these spaces from other venues is…
Australian Federal Election 2025 Roundtable
Panel discussion
Join us on Thursday 8 May, for a panel discussion examining the results of the 2025 Australian Federal Election. Bringing together some of the country’s leading scholars in political science, this event offers a considered and data-driven exploration of the forces that shaped this year’s outcome.…
Market for Warriors: A Rational Theory of Military Clubs
Seminar
Disproportionate recruitment of distinctive ethnic and religious groups has been a staple strategy of rulers throughout history. Why, however, do rulers limit their talent pool in this manner? Existing explanations have looked to irrational ideologies such as that of the 'martial races' or to a…
How Cases Speak to One Another: Using Translation to Rethink Generalization in Political Science Research (Nicholas Rush Smith, CUNY)
Seminar
Regardless of method, political scientists often seek to develop arguments that can be generalized to a population of cases. But is this the only way to think about how cases speak to one another? We advocate for a new way to think about how qualitative research produces broadly applicable…