#137: Tourism in North Korea

North Korea is one the world's most authoritarian and isolated countries, cut off from global trade and Western influence. Yet, its doors remain open to tourists, who the government welcomes and is keen to show the North Korea it wants them to see. Guest: James Scullin (Tour leader in North Korea, co-author: The Hotels of Pyongyang) Recorded 7 February, 2020.

#136: Gender and Online Activism in Indonesia

Violence against women and gender activism became central issues in Indonesia during the 2019 elections. The growing importance of these issues and events is a sign of how successful they have been at rallying supporters in the digital media environment. Guest: Dr Monika Winarnita (Honorary Research Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University) Recorded 5 December, 2019.

Event: Managing the Himalaya (live in Sikkim)

The mountains of the Himalaya are instantly recognisable, and they play a critical role in Asia’s climate, hydrology, ecology, and geopolitics. Despite their regional and global importance, they face multiple, severe, and intersecting threats that do not receive the attention they deserve. Speakers: Dr Alexander E. Davis (New Generation Network Research Fellow, Politics, La Trobe University) Dr Ruth Gamble (David Myers Research Fellow, La Trobe University) Dr Gerald Roche (Research Fellow, Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University) Dr. K.R. Rama Mohan (Associate Professor, Head of Anthropology, Sikkim University) Pema Dorjee (Consulting Editor, Summit Times) Dr Uttam Lal (Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Sikkim University) An Indian launch of the La Trobe Asia Brief Issue 3, held in partnership with the anthropology department of Sikkim University on 22 November, 2019.

Event: Maintaining Stability in a Volatile Region: a Japanese Perspective

Japan’s national security is rapidly changing. Asia is shifting from an era of prosperity and peace to one of contestation and rivalry between powerful leaders. North Korea has grown emboldened and appears no closer to denuclearisation than when Kim Jong Un embraced dialogue with US President, Donald Trump, in 2017. Xi Jinping’s China is more confident, assertive and nationalistic than ever, and there is fresh uncertainty about Japan’s security partner, the United States. In this challenging security environment, Japan has signalled a desire to change its foreign and defence policy to secure greater regional and global influence. What role is it seeking to play in Prime Minister Abe’s vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific? How will it establish and maintain space for itself in the region? What are the prospects for closer security cooperation between Australia and Japan? In conversation: - Associate Professor Tsuruoka Michito (Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio Uni...

#135: Tibetan Refugees in India

When Tibet was invaded by China in the 1950s the Dalai Lama and many Tibetans left, finding a new home in India. Over the years this population has grown, now overseen by a Central Tibetan authority which has never been formally integrated into India. While this has allowed Tibetans to retain their culture and religion, it’s added challenges when it comes to citizenship. Guest: Associate Professor Sonika Gupta (China Studies Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Madras) Recorded 26 June, 2019.

#134: The Risks of Engaging with China

Australian universities rely heavily on China for both students and research investment, but engagement brings considerable risk. Technology theft is common, and awareness of how research is being applied is necessary for institutional security. Guest: Alex Joske (Analyst, Australian Strategic Policy Institute) Recorded on 24 October, 2019.

Event: Melting Opportunities: Climate Change and Conflict in the Himalaya

The snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas are instantly recognisable, but the critical role these mountains play in Asia’s climate, hydrology, ecology and geopolitics is mostly underplayed. Despite this importance, or perhaps because of them, there are a number of threats to the environment, many of which intersect, and the Himalayas will need careful management and thoughtful intervention if they are to survive both as a natural environment and a resource. In this event, a panel of experts discuss the problems with managing the Himalayas and potential solutions. Speakers: - Dr Alexander Davis (NGN Research Fellow, La Trobe University) - Dr Ruth Gamble (Centre for the Study of the Inland, La Trobe University) - Dr Anwesha Dutta (Chr. Michelsen Institute, Bergen, Norway) - Dr Euan Graham (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) Recorded at the launch of the third issue of the La Trobe Asia Brief on 23 October 2019 at the City Campus of La Trobe University.

#133: Climate Change and Conflict in the Himalaya

The ice-capped peaks of the Himalaya are instantly recognisable and play a critical role in Asia's climate, hydrology, ecology and geopolitics. Despite this importance the mountains are also the site of international border disputes, ethnic unrest, competitive development and ongoing environmental and cultural destruction. Guest: Dr Ruth Gamble (David Myers Research Fellow, La Trobe University) Dr Alexander Davis (New Generation Network Research Fellow, La Trobe University) Recorded on 26 September, 2019.

#132: Tibetan Language and Identity

A traditional Tibetan proverb tells that every valley has its river and every village has its own language. These languages are an important part of the Tibetan identity, and and there is much debate among the wider Tibetan diaspora as to how to teach and preserve them. Guest: Dr Tsering Shakya (Associate Professor, Research Chair in Religion and Contemporary Society in Asia, Institute for Asian Research, University of British Columbia) Recorded on 2 July, 2019.

Event: The Surprising Success of Chinese Communism: The PRC at 70

In October 2019 the People's Republic of China celebrated its 70th anniversary with pomp, parades and pageantry. This lecture Asia examines the highs and lows, the failures and its successes of the PRC through the 27 Mao Zedong years and the 43 years since then, of Deng Xiaoping's reform-and-opening followed by Xi Jinping's New Era for "socialism with Chinese characteristics." A China Studies Research Centre / La Trobe Asia event Speakers: - Professor Baogang He (Alfred Deakin Professor and Chair in International Relations at Deakin University) - Dr Gerry Groot (Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies in the Department of Asian Studies, University of Adelaide) - Dr Delia Lin (Senior lecturer in Chinese Studies in the Asia Institute, University of Melbourne) - Rowan Callick (Author and former China correspondent for The Australian Financial Review and The Australian)(Chair) Recorded on 1 October 2019 at the La Trobe University City Campus.