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Emeritus Professor Robert Elson
Emeritus Professor

Robert Elson

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Overview

Background

Emeritus Professor Robert Elson’s research interests include the modern and contemporary history of Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia.

His recently completedresearch project, entitled "the history of maritime territoriality in the Indonesian seas since 1850” was published in 2017.

Professor Elson's other research interests include Indonesian political thinking, leadership in Indonesia; changing identity in Indonesia; the social and economic history of Southeast Asia; social and economic change in nineteenth and twentieth century Java; colonialism and its impact in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia; the economic history of peasant production in Southeast Asia, 1800-1990.

He is involved in the following activities:

  • Member, Editorial Board, Southeast Asia Publications Series, Asian Studies Association of Australia.

  • Member, Academic Commission (Wetenschapscommissie), NIOD Instituut voor Oorlogs-, Holocaust- en Genocidestudies (Institute for War, Holocaust- and Genocide Studies) (2004-2014).

  • Adjunct Professor, University of the Sunshine Coast.

  • External Examiner University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur for Bachelor of Arts (International and Strategic Studies); Master of Strategic and Defence Studies); Bachelor of Arts (Southeast Asian Studies): Master of Arts (Southeast Asian Studies); Bachelor of Arts (History); Master of Arts (Malaysian History) and Master of Arts (Southeast Asian History) (2014- ).

Availability

Emeritus Professor Robert Elson is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Qualifications

  • Academy of Humanities, Academy of Humanities

Research interests

  • The modern and contemporary history of Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia.

    The modern and contemporary history of Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia; maritime territoriality in the Indonesian seas after 1850; the history of secularism in modern Indonesia; Indonesian political thinking, leadership in Indonesia; changing identity in Indonesia; the social and economic history of Southeast Asia; social and economic change in nineteenth and twentieth century Java; colonialism and its impact in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia; the economic history of peasant production in Southeast Asia, 1800-1990.

Works

Search Professor Robert Elson’s works on UQ eSpace

46 works between 1998 and 2017

41 - 46 of 46 works

2002

Book Chapter

In fear of the people: Suharto and the justification of state-sponsored violence under the New Order

Elson, R. E. (2002). In fear of the people: Suharto and the justification of state-sponsored violence under the New Order. Roots of violence in Indonesia: Contemporary violence in historical perspective. (pp. 173-195) edited by Freek Columbijn and J. Thomas Lindblad. Leiden, The Netherlands: KITLV Press.

In fear of the people: Suharto and the justification of state-sponsored violence under the New Order

2002

Book Chapter

The Americans and the 1965 ‘coup attempt’: new insights?

Elson, R. E. (2002). The Americans and the 1965 ‘coup attempt’: new insights?. Macht en majesteit: opstellen voor Cees Fasseur. (pp. 304-323) edited by J. Thomas Lindblad and Willem van der Molen. Leiden: Opleiding Talen en Culturen van Zuidoost-Azië en Oceanië, Universiteit Leiden.

The Americans and the 1965 ‘coup attempt’: new insights?

2001

Book Chapter

Brief reflections on Indonesian political history

Elson, R. E. (2001). Brief reflections on Indonesian political history. Indonesia today: challenges of history. (pp. ---) edited by Grayson Lloyd and Shannon Smith. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Brief reflections on Indonesian political history

2001

Book

Suharto: A political biography

Elson, R. E. (2001). Suharto: A political biography. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Suharto: A political biography

1998

Journal Article

Review of 'Shallow waters, rising tide: Shipping and trade in Java around 1750'

Elson, R. E. (1998). Review of 'Shallow waters, rising tide: Shipping and trade in Java around 1750'. Journal of Asian Studies, 57 (1), 288-290. doi: 10.2307/2659102

Review of 'Shallow waters, rising tide: Shipping and trade in Java around 1750'

1998

Journal Article

Review of 'Riding the Dutch tiger: The Dutch East Indies company and the northeast coast of Java, 1680-1743'

Elson, R. E. (1998). Review of 'Riding the Dutch tiger: The Dutch East Indies company and the northeast coast of Java, 1680-1743'. The Journal of Asian Studies, 57 (1), 288-290. doi: 10.2307/2659102

Review of 'Riding the Dutch tiger: The Dutch East Indies company and the northeast coast of Java, 1680-1743'

Funding

Past funding

  • 2008 - 2010
    Contesting the seas: maritime terrioriality in the Indonesian archipelago since 1850 (ARC DP administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    The Origins And Trajectory Of Secularism In Modern Indonesian Politics
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    The Idea of Indonesia: a history
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Emeritus Professor Robert Elson is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A Political Biography of Sumitro Djojohadikusumo: Power and Influence in the Political Development of Modern Indonesia

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Annie Pohlman

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor Robert Elson directly for media enquiries about:

  • Colonialism - South-East Asia
  • Economic history - South-East Asia
  • Government - Indonesia
  • History - Indonesia
  • History - South-East Asia
  • Indonesia - history
  • Indonesia - politics
  • Java- history
  • Leadership - Indonesia
  • Politics - Indonesia
  • South-East Asia - history and economics

Need help?

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communications@uq.edu.au