Democracy, Security and Public Policy

The flags of many nations symbolise the distinctive international contribution the Democracy, Security and Public Policy group research agenda will make to provide the basis for national and regional action.

This Strategic Research Program draws on areas of special expertise at Griffith and creates a unique multi-disciplinary approach to tackling the burning issue of sustainable security and rule of law in the Asia-Pacific region. It seeks to integrate issues of governance, security and democracy to provide a better understanding of the challenges that face the region and their long-term solutions.

Asian studies and ethics, governance and public policy have long been leading capabilities at Griffith University, with outstanding national and international reputations. More recently, strong growth in democracy and security studies at Griffith have provided the means to take a leading role in understanding and responding to some of the most urgent issues facing Australia and the whole Asia-Pacific region.

While Security, Democracy and Public Policy are all areas in which much research is being conducted world-wide, for the first time this Strategic Research Program integrates their concerns and methodologies to increase their power of analysis and response. Its research agenda will make a distinctive international contribution in each field of study and provide the basis for national and regional action.

The Program draws primarily on the resources of the Griffith Asia Institute and the Centre of Governance and Public Policy at Griffith University. Additional expertise at Griffith that boosts the Program?s strength and depth includes Asian studies, international business, bio-security and bio-resources, software quality development, next generation IT security design, international law, criminology and justice studies, and innovations in prevention and management of pandemic diseases such as avian influenza.

The Strategic Research Program explores five main themes. It seeks to be both practical and theoretical in approach and to produce findings that provide solutions to governments and also build scholarship in this important area of study. The Five main themes which the Strategic Research Program in Democracy, Security and Public Policy examines are:

  1. Democracy and Dissent
  2. Health Security and Governance
  3. Energy and Resource Security
  4. Global Governance
  5. Asian Regionalism

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