Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Associate Professor Melissa Curley
Associate Professor

Melissa Curley

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 69054

Overview

Background

Associate Professor in International Relations. Her research and teaching interests include Southeast Asian politics and international relations, Cambodian politics and post-conflict reconstruction, and non-traditional security in East Asia (including trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling, pandemic disease and child protection issues). Dr. Curley co-facilitated the UQ Working Group on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling in the T.C Bernie School of Law (http://www.law.uq.edu.au/humantrafficking) from 2012-2016. She has published in internationally peer reviewed journals including: Review of International Studies, The Journal of Law and Society, Australian Journal of Human Rights, and Australian Journal of International Affairs, amongst others. Her most recent book is Migration and Security in Asia (Routledge 2008) with S.L. Wong. Before joining the School in January 2006, Dr. Curley was a researcher in the China-ASEAN project at the Centre of Asian Studies at the University of Hong Kong, where she also coordinated a consultancy project on Southeast Asian affairs for the Hong Kong Government's Central Policy Unit. She holds a Ph.D in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University in the UK, and BA(Hons) in Government from UQ.

In 2015, Dr Curley joined the Executive Advisory Board of Bravehearts, an Australian not-for profit organisation that aims to educate, empower and protect Australian children from sexual assault, and in 2016 was made a Paul Harris Fellow, in recognition of her services to The Rotary Foundation. In 2020 she gained Fellowship status with the Higher Education Academy (UK).

Availability

Associate Professor Melissa Curley is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Nottingham Trent University

Research interests

  • Governance of civil society in authoritarian states

    The role of civil society under authoritarian rule. How do they navigate relations with the state and advocate for their agenda?

  • Migration and Security

    • Forms of irregular migration and security and their 'securitisation' by the state • Securitisation theory and its application in non-democratic contexts

  • Non-traditional Security in the Asia Pacific

    Non-traditional security issue in International Relations are commonly understood to be transnational, multi-jurisdictional policy issues that impact multiple states and which cannot be solved via domestic (internal) policies alone, such as: trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling, public health and pandemic disease and drug and wildlife trafficking and child exploitation. My publications have appeared in a range of internationally peer-reviewed journals in Political Science, Asian Studies, International Relations and Law across these topics, often as lead author. Focus areas include: policy approaches to non-traditional security in state and institutional contexts; conceptual intersections between traditional and non-traditional security; infectious and pandemic diseases including SARS, H5N1 Bird Flu, COVID 19; and child trafficking and exploitation and relevant international legal frameworks.

Works

Search Professor Melissa Curley’s works on UQ eSpace

52 works between 1999 and 2023

21 - 40 of 52 works

2014

Conference Publication

Mapping health systems in low and middle income countries: directions for aid flows

Macarayan, E., Curley, M. and Western, M. (2014). Mapping health systems in low and middle income countries: directions for aid flows. McDonell International Symposium, St Louis, Missouri, United States, 16-19 October 2014.

Mapping health systems in low and middle income countries: directions for aid flows

2014

Conference Publication

Typologies of people-centered health systems in low and middle income countries

Macarayan, E., Curley, M. and Western, M. (2014). Typologies of people-centered health systems in low and middle income countries. Third Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Cape Town, South Africa, 30 September-3 October 2014.

Typologies of people-centered health systems in low and middle income countries

2014

Book Chapter

Developments in Cambodian democracy: democratic consolidation or authoritarian durability?

Curley, Melissa (2014). Developments in Cambodian democracy: democratic consolidation or authoritarian durability?. Democracy in Eastern Asia: Issues, problems and challenges in a region of diversity. (pp. 138-158) edited by Edmund S. K. Fung and Steven Drakeley. Abingdon, Oxon, U.K.: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203795088

Developments in Cambodian democracy: democratic consolidation or authoritarian durability?

2014

Conference Publication

Using principles of political psychology in health systems performance comparative case studies

Macarayan, E., Curley, M. and Western, M. (2014). Using principles of political psychology in health systems performance comparative case studies. Australasian Political Psychology Workshop, Monash University Law Chambers, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Using principles of political psychology in health systems performance comparative case studies

2014

Conference Publication

Is democracy needed for health systems performance assessments?

Macarayan, E, Curley, M and Western, M (2014). Is democracy needed for health systems performance assessments?. APSA 2014: Australian Political Studies Association Annual Conference, Sydney, Australia, 28 September - 04 October 2014.

Is democracy needed for health systems performance assessments?

2013

Book Chapter

Human security's future in regional co-operation and governance?

Curley, Melissa (2013). Human security's future in regional co-operation and governance?. Human security. (pp. 1-15) edited by Taylor Owen. Los Angeles, United States: Sage Publicaitons.

Human security's future in regional co-operation and governance?

2013

Conference Publication

Applying Progress as a Tool to Measure Well-being

Macarayan, Erlyn, Curley, Melissa and Western, Mark (2013). Applying Progress as a Tool to Measure Well-being. 2013 Perspectives on Progress Conference, The University of Queensland, 26 - 29 November 2013. St Lucia, Brisbane QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.

Applying Progress as a Tool to Measure Well-being

2013

Conference Publication

Fiscal Decentralization, Health Expenditures, and Public Health Outcomes

Macarayan, Erlyn Rachelle, Fernandez, Klein, Curley, Melissa and Western, Mark (2013). Fiscal Decentralization, Health Expenditures, and Public Health Outcomes. Rc28 Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 16 - 20 July 2013. St Lucia, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland Institute for Social Science Research.

Fiscal Decentralization, Health Expenditures, and Public Health Outcomes

2013

Conference Publication

The Southeast Asian politics of natural resource use: impacts on food and health inequalities

Macarayan, Erlyn Rachelle K., Curley, Melissa and Western, Mark (2013). The Southeast Asian politics of natural resource use: impacts on food and health inequalities. APSA 2013: Australian Political Studies Association Annual Conference 2013, Perth, WA, Australia, 30 September-1 October, 2013. Parkville, VIC Australia: Australian Political Studies Association.

The Southeast Asian politics of natural resource use: impacts on food and health inequalities

2013

Conference Publication

Mainstreaming Health Insurance for the Disadvantaged Children

Macarayan, Erlyn, Curley, Melissa and Western, Mark (2013). Mainstreaming Health Insurance for the Disadvantaged Children. 8th Health Policy and Services Research Conference, Intercontinental Wellington, New Zealand, 2 - 4 December 2013.

Mainstreaming Health Insurance for the Disadvantaged Children

2012

Book Chapter

The role of civil society in East Asian region building

Curley, Melissa G. (2012). The role of civil society in East Asian region building. Advancing East Asian Regionalism. (pp. 179-202) London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203023303-17

The role of civil society in East Asian region building

2012

Book Chapter

The securitisation of avian influenza: international discourses and domestic politics in Asia

Curley, Melissa and Herington, Jonathan (2012). The securitisation of avian influenza: international discourses and domestic politics in Asia. Health, security and governance. (pp. 141-166) edited by Nicholas Thomas. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.

The securitisation of avian influenza: international discourses and domestic politics in Asia

2012

Book Chapter

Human security and public health in Southeast Asia: The SARS outbreak

Curley, Melissa and Thomas, Nicholas (2012). Human security and public health in Southeast Asia: The SARS outbreak. Health, security and governance. (pp. 17-32) edited by Nicholas Thomas. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.

Human security and public health in Southeast Asia: The SARS outbreak

2012

Book Chapter

Advancing East Asian regionalism: An introduction

Curley, Melissa G. and Thomas, Nicholas (2012). Advancing East Asian regionalism: An introduction. Advancing East Asian regionalism. (pp. 1-25) edited by Melissa G. Curley and Nicholas Thomas. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9780203023303-9

Advancing East Asian regionalism: An introduction

2011

Journal Article

Issues in Australian foreign policy: January to June 2011

Curley, Melissa and Moores, Dane (2011). Issues in Australian foreign policy: January to June 2011. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 57 (4), 597-613. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8497.2011.01617.x

Issues in Australian foreign policy: January to June 2011

2009

Journal Article

Twentieth anniversary special issue. International relations: An oceanic perspective

Curley, Melissa, Davies, Sara, Devetak, Richard and Kaempf, Seb (2009). Twentieth anniversary special issue. International relations: An oceanic perspective. Global Change, Peace and Security, 21 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.1080/14781150802659218

Twentieth anniversary special issue. International relations: An oceanic perspective

2008

Book Chapter

Levels of Analysis Issues in the Migration-Security Nexus

Curley, Melissa G. (2008). Levels of Analysis Issues in the Migration-Security Nexus. Security and migration Asia : The dynamics of securitisation. (pp. 19-34) edited by Melissa Curley and Wong Sui-lun. London: Routledge.

Levels of Analysis Issues in the Migration-Security Nexus

2008

Book Chapter

New Threats to Security: Unregulated migration, pandemics and disease

Curley, Melissa G. (2008). New Threats to Security: Unregulated migration, pandemics and disease. Australian Foreign Policy in the Age of Terror. (pp. 133-156) edited by Ungerer, Carl J.. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press.

New Threats to Security: Unregulated migration, pandemics and disease

2008

Book Chapter

Conclusion: Undocumented migration and the state/human security nexus in Asia

Curley, Melissa G. and Wong, Sui-lun (2008). Conclusion: Undocumented migration and the state/human security nexus in Asia. Security and Migration in Asia: The Dynamics of Securitisation. (pp. 179-184) edited by Melissa Curle and Sui-lun Wong. London & New York: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203934722

Conclusion: Undocumented migration and the state/human security nexus in Asia

2008

Book Chapter

Introduction: Applying securitisation theory to unregulated migration in Asia

Curley, Melissa and Sui-lun, Wong (2008). Introduction: Applying securitisation theory to unregulated migration in Asia. Security and migration Asia : The dynamics of securitisation. (pp. 3-18) edited by Melissa G. Curley and Wong Sui-lun. London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203934722

Introduction: Applying securitisation theory to unregulated migration in Asia

Funding

Past funding

  • 2006 - 2007
    Governance, Sovereignty and Civil Society: The Emergence of Civil Society in Cambodia Post-UNTAC
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Melissa Curley is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • The role of civil society groups in Environmental Governance (Indo-Pacific)

  • Combating Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery in Southeast Asia

    How do states in Southeast Asia combatt trafficking in persons? This research agenda includes the governance of anti-trafficking iniatives within government and the implementation of domestic trafficking laws, in compliance with the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol (2000).

    How are NGOs and other faith-based organisations involved in anti-trafficking initiatives?

    How is trafficking in children and child exploitation related? What are the drivers of child exploitation in Southeast Asia (tourism industry, trafficking for domestic labour and sexual exploitaton) and how can they be reduced and/or eradicated?

  • The role of civil society groups in Environmental Governance (Indo-Pacific)

  • Combating Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery in Southeast Asia

    How do states in Southeast Asia combatt trafficking in persons? This research agenda includes the governance of anti-trafficking iniatives within government and the implementation of domestic trafficking laws, in compliance with the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol (2000).

    How are NGOs and other faith-based organisations involved in anti-trafficking initiatives?

    How is trafficking in children and child exploitation related? What are the drivers of child exploitation in Southeast Asia (tourism industry, trafficking for domestic labour and sexual exploitaton) and how can they be reduced and/or eradicated?

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Dynamic Responses of Southeast Asian States to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Andrew Phillips

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Become Worthy or Remain Neglected: A Gendered Analysis of the United Kingdom and Australia's Regulation of ISIS Women Returnees

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Nicole George

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The localization of the right to asylum norm in ASEAN: Assessing ASEAN Response during the Refugee Crisis

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Alexander Bellamy

  • Doctor Philosophy

    State Formation and Self-Determination in post-Colonial Africa: The Case of Secessionists Movements in Sudan and Nigeria

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Alexander Bellamy

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Jihadi Brides, Race, and their Return: Examining Government Responses in the United States (U.S.), Malaysia, and Germany

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Nicole George

  • Doctor Philosophy

    State Formation and Self-Determination in post-Colonial Africa: The Case of Secessionists Movements in Sudan and Nigeria

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Alexander Bellamy

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Associate Professor Melissa Curley's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au