Australian studies in China: Resilient, relevant, but not assured

This article appeared in Journal of Australian Studies, pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/14443058.2026.2746666

ABSTRACT

The strength of the Australian studies community in China has long been cited as a standout achievement of the field. Some recent scholarship is more critical, arguing, for example, that Australian studies in China has failed to appropriately diversify away from its origins in literature studies, which limits its engagement with contemporary Australia. To assess the current state of Australian studies in China, this article draws on a unique dataset assembled from seven editions of the International Conference of Australian Studies in China over the past decade. Apart from the pandemic period, participation has remained consistently high. Graduate students typically account for at least one-third of paper presentations. A convening role is also revealed with extensive involvement from institutions not hosting an Australian Studies Centre. Two-thirds of presentations were from disciplines other than literature studies, such as economics/business and international relations, and these closely tracked developments in the Australia–China bilateral relationship. Our findings point to a resilient community that retains relevance. However, its sustainability, both in terms of scale and character, is not assured. Limits on academic exchanges being driven by securitisation have the potential to be especially damaging.

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