European studies in Australia: origins, development and current standing

Mascitelli, B., Francesco-mayot, S. D., Morgan, P. and Wilson, B. (2020) European studies in Australia: origins, development and current standing. Asia Pacific Journal of EU Studies, 18(2), pp. 81-101.

Abstract

European Studies in Australia really emerged in the 1990s Australian universities initially through the medium of university curriculums. European Union integration studies were rare within the curriculum and appeared mostly through the portal of multidisciplinary curriculum. Much of the studies of Europe became associated with the appreciation, or lack thereof, of what was happening and what was understood with the European project. Given the British origins of Australia and difficulties experienced by Australia with British entry in the European Community in 1973, the perception of Europe was not an especially positive one. The furious response from political circles, agriculture and other impacted entities had a lasting impact on Australia’s vision of the European project. Amidst this background European Studies emerged and timidly proceeded to establish itself. In this background the Australian association for European Studies emerged when in 1991 in an Australian Political Science conference, voices were raised for a specific perspective towards Europe. Thus emerged the Contemporary European Studies Association of Australia (CESAA) which joined the EU Studies Asia Pacific at its foundation and provided an Australian voice. The culmination of this evolution was the grand step to merge with its New Zealand counterparts in May 2020 bringing greater reach, breadth and depth to European Union outreach in this part of the world.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Wilson, Professor Bruce
• Authors: Mascitelli, B., Francesco-mayot, S. D., Morgan, P., and Wilson, B.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: Asia Pacific Journal of EU Studies
• ISSN: 1598-8902