Global Asia Research Initiative
The Global Asia Research Initiative positions the College as a regional hub for scholarship on Asia in global context. Our work grows from the conviction that research based in Asia can generate new concepts for understanding politics, economics, governance, and social change with relevance far beyond the region.
Asia is shaping global conversations on development, technology, climate adaptation, and governance. Yet many global theories draw on western experiences. Our initiative seeks to invert this norm by grounding global understanding in Asian realities, methodologies, and intellectual traditions.
The initiative will strengthen NTU’s capacity to become a recognised centre for global public affairs, drawing on Asia-centred research to reshape international debates.
A. Three Major Strands
The initiative advances three research strands:
- Politics and Governance Examining how states, institutions, and communities govern plural societies, manage change, and navigate global pressures.
- Trade and Political Economy Studying regional economic integration, global supply chains, financial systems, and Southeast Asian and South Asian economic transformations.
- Migration and Mobility Investigating movement across borders, labour migration, diasporas, belonging, citizenship, and regional demographic shifts.
B. Activities
- Visiting fellows and policy dialogues
- Data and archival collaborations with regional partners
- Workshops and conferences on Global Asia concepts
- Support for early-career scholars and postgraduate researchers
- Co-development of public affairs curricula and teaching innovations