Politics Research Projects
- Islam and Islamism: New Mediations
- Counter-Terrorism Policing for Culturally Diverse Communities
- ARC Report: Studies on Islam and Muslim Societies
Islam and Islamism: New Mediations
- Dr Pete Lentini
- Funded by Monash University Grant Schemes
'New Mediations' refers to (a) how Australian and American Muslims new to the faith interpret and negotiate Islam and, perhaps in some cases Islamism, as well as (b) how Muslims utilise new forms of media and popular culture to articulate their identities, receive information about events pertinent to the Muslim world, communicate with their co-religionists (and others) and the extent to which they are making new contributions and interpretations to a 1,400 year old religion. This project is significant because there are very few studies pertaining to Islam that examine specifically how Muslim converts engage in identity formation. Moreover, a part of it will constitute the first cross-cultural investigation into whether media representations of prominent 'rogue reverts' like Jack Roche, David Hicks and John Walker Lindh, and the moral panic surrounding European-descended converts to Islam, and their perceived radicalism, are representative of those who have chosen Islam. The project is also related to three National Research Priority Areas: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health (Strengthening Australia's Social and Economic Fabric); Safeguarding Australia (Understanding Our Region and the World); Safeguarding Australia (Protecting Australia From Terrorism and Crime). The project seeks to generate new understandings on how Muslim converts in the US and Australia view their new religion and religious community, how they view contemporary social and political issues, and their relationship to new media and youth subcultures in negotiating their identities. Subsidiary aims of the research are to evaluate what, if any, impact new Muslims may be having within their communities and whether Muslim communities are adequately equipped (materially, culturally, etc.) to provide for the needs of newcomers to the faith.
Counter-Terrorism Policing for Culturally Diverse Communities
- Dr. Sharon Pickering and Dr. Jude McCulloch. Dr Pete Lentini coordinates the project's media analysis section.
- Funded by Australian Research Council Linkage Grant Scheme, in partnership with Victorian Police Counter-Terrorism Coordination Unit.
This project has four streams of investigation: the police organization, communities, the media and the legislative/policy framework that contribute to achieving the following project aims: First, the project will identify, describe, analyse and critically evaluate the prevailing rationales and assumptions that underlie understandings of terrorism and counter-terrorism amongst Victorian Police as well as the culturally and religiously diverse communities and groups that make up the Victorian population and what may termed 'non-ethnic' groups. Second, it will evaluate the impact and potential impact of existing and alternative counter-terrorism policies and strategies on Victoria Police and the broader community as well as media representations of counter-terrorism and counter-terrorism policy and legislative frameworks. To this end, the project will consider a number of aspects including core policing functions, human rights, and the degree of positive engagement and communication between police and culturally diverse communities and groups. Third the project will develop an optimum model of counter-terrorism policing that maximizes opportunities for effectiveness and minimizes potential negative outcomes. In particular, it will seek to expand the conventional counter-terrorism policing model in a way that incorporates fundamental tenets of the community policing model.