HDR Scholarship - Chinese Politics of Covid-19

Applications now open. A PhD scholarship is available to initiate and conduct research on the topic 'Chinese Politics of Covid-19'.

Project Supervisor

Location

Melbourne Burwood Campus

Research topic

A central point of controversy over Covid-19 was the political fallout from the Morrison government's call for an independent international inquiry into the origins of Covid-19. How did this initiative of call amplify geopolitical frictions and affected international cooperation in pandemic control efforts? How have these tensions played out in diplomatic relations, technological exchanges, and public narratives, particularly in the context of China's evolving global role? By integrating empirical findings with a broader discussion of geopolitics and technological governance, the project highlights both the potential and the limits of international cooperation in responding to global health crises and contributes to develop to a deeper understanding of the intersection between global health governance, technology, and international politics in the Covid-19 era.

Project aim

This project aims to analyse the dynamics of international cooperation, technological innovation, and geopolitical tensions that shaped epidemic control during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on China. It addresses three interrelated themes:

  1. the rationales, practices, and tensions surrounding technological collaboration among key international stakeholders - China, Western nations, and the Global South - during the pandemic;
  2. the deployment of epidemic control technologies in China, with an emphasis on their intersection with socio-political surveillance systems; and
  3. domestic and international responses to China's pandemic management strategies, its international performance, and the resulting implications for China's political legitimacy.

Important dates

Applications close 5pm, Wednesday 30 April 2025

Benefits

This scholarship is available over 3 years.

  • Stipend of $35,550 per annum tax exempt (2025 rate)

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible you must:

  • be a domestic candidate. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship.
  • meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
  • be enrolling full time and hold an honours degree (first class) or an equivalent standard master's degree with a substantial research component.

Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.

How to apply

Please email a CV and cover letter to Prof Baogang He. The CV should highlight your skills, education, publications and relevant work experience. If you are successful you will then be invited to submit a formal application.

Contact us

For more information about this scholarship, please contact Prof Baogang He

Prof Baogang He
Email Prof Baogang He
+61 3 924 43900