Theories for Research

Panel Presentation: Theories for Research: Asia Pacific responses to dominant theories in civil society

7 December 2021
15:00 Sydney, 12:00 Kuala Lumpur, 9.30 New Delhi (90 minutes)

Open to the public.

The dominant theories typically used in civil society research do not always translate easily to local, Asia-Pacific contexts. This panel will explore how local theorising can identify extensions to ‘old’ theories and lead to developing new theories. The panel will also explore how considering non-Western theories can facilitate deeper understandings of research findings, particularly when communicating learnings to a wider audience.

Panel Members:

Ling Han, Assistant Professor, Gender Studies Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Drawing on her longitudinal qualitative case studies of social work agencies in China, she critically examines the existing theories on nonprofit emergence to determine how nonprofit organisations in China construct their mission and define social problems. Social relationships and interactions are important in explaining how these organisations locate their mission and issue areas.

Jioji Ravulo, Professor and Chair of Social Work and Policy Studies in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney. He is passionate about engaging to create collaborative spaces for students, community groups and industry partners that include cultural diversity and its differences. Jioji will draw on his various community based research and co-design initiatives, particularly (but not exclusively) with Pasifika groups, highlighting decolonising theory.

Jazak Akbar Hidayat, Alumnus of PhD program in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney. He is currently working in Indonesia as a trainer and lecturer. Joining us from South Kalimantan province in Indonesia, he will reflect on his studies on local communities and the effects of indigeneity discourses on their identity construction and activism. In a presentation entitled ‘Grappling with identity: a postcolonial interrogation of the Meratus peoples’ indigeneity’ he will present on how international-linked NGOs in Indonesia have come with global (Western) ideas about indigeneity.

Moderator: Ruth Phillips, Associate Professor in the Social Work and Policy Studies at the University of Sydney. Ruth is past President of ISTR (2019-2020) and is well known for her research in and with the sector on inequalities and social justice, social structures and social work and social policy.