A thought-leadership project by Asia Society Australia presenting new perspectives and policy recommendations on how Asia’s rise is impacting Australia’s foreign policy, economy and society and how Australia should respond.

Supported by WWF, The University of Queensland, and Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.

Edited by Greg Earl.

The Disruptive Asia webcast series

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Equality

Gender Inequality and the Ultimate Resistance of Women in China

Equality

How Asian Women are Challenging the Digital Ceiling in Esports

Education

On The Rise of Asian Australian Women’s Writing

Equality

How to fix China’s Population Crisis: Say Sorry to Women

Aid

The Costs of Caring: Gender Inequalities in the Pacific Labour Scheme

Human Rights

Trafficked Victims to Cultural Pioneers: Migrant Wives in South Korea

Education

Engaging Men in Preventing Domestic Violence

Defence

How Women have Changed the International Security Agenda

Diplomacy

Mentoring the next generation of women in international relations

Equality

Dynasties’ Daughters and Martyrs’ Widows: Female Leaders and Gender Inequality in Asia

Equality

Women: Missing (but) in Action in Japanese Politics

Business

Trading Up: A Diversity Campaign in Hong Kong’s Clubby Business World

Business

The Power of Parity in Asia: Improving Policies in the Workplace to Support Women Better

Economics

Why Law Reform will Beat Cultural Change in the Campaign for Gender Equality at Work

Economics

Pandemic Recovery Offers a New Pathway to a Transformation in Gender Norms in the Region

Business

From Investment Banking to Ethical Fashion

Business

Investing in Women for the Future of Southeast Asia

Equality

Foreword 2021-22

Welcome

Asia’s ascendancy and the resulting geopolitical, geoeconomic, demographic and social shifts affect virtually all facets of Australian life. Disruptive Asia is a humble attempt to re-start the conversation about the impact of Asia on Australia and our place in the region, and broaden, deepen and bring together the community of those who debate these issues.

Volume 5

Economics

Why Law Reform will Beat Cultural Change in the Campaign for Gender Equality at Work

While national trends and rates vary across the region, in many countries women are increasing their workforce participation. This marks a significant change in women’s employment patterns. Yet labour law and workplace policies have not kept abreast of these changes,…
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Volume 4

Climate Change

Creating Value in CO2: How Australia can Help Trading Partners to Decarbonise Profitably

The linear ‘take-make-waste’ method has been a dominant feature of global production and consumption since the industrial revolution, resulting in hidden waste costs that future generations will have to address. Business leaders and technologists – conscious of the ten-year deadline required…
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Publication Launch: Sustainability of the Asian Century

The special launch event of our 2020 Disruptive Asia Publication – Sustainability of the Asia Century.

As we move ever closer to the UN’s 2030 sustainability targets, leading international sustainability experts analyse the year that was, and a discussion of the way forward for sustainable development in the region.

Featuring former Prime Minister of New Zealand and global leader in sustainable development and gender equality the Right Honourable Helen Clark, President of WWF International Pavan Sukhdev, Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development of the Asian Development Bank Dr Bambang Susantono, and CEO at ClimateWorks Australia Anna Skarbek in conversation with CNN Indonesia’s Desi Anwar.

Infrastructure

Australia and the BRI: Cooperate, compete or challenge

The fraught debate around Australia’s response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was again on show in the lead up to the recent federal election. Former Australian ambassador to China, Geoff Raby, counselled that the incoming government should more actively embrace the…
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Volume 2

Economics

Bridging a looming digital divide with Indonesia

On a recent trip to Jakarta I was shown by a friend an app on his smartphone which allowed someone to invest in the sale price of a goat or sheep by paying the farmer for its care for three…
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Volume 1

Equality

Cultural Diversity in Politics and Media Will Create National Prosperity

Australia’s culturally diverse population is drawn from more than 300 ancestries and is visible in everyday life. This is why Australia is often lauded by its political leaders and commentators as one of the most successful and harmonious multicultural nations…
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