How does the work you are doing relate to governance?
My PhD proposal relates to the modelling and evaluating the extent to which trajectories of remote Indigenous communities conform to the Demographic Transition Model, namely how modern societies have become transformed by changing urbanising and industrialising forces and declining fertility and mortality rates.
The concept of governance is intrinsically part of my research. What is evident is the disproportionate attention these communities receive from Governments and policy makers. Moreover policies such as ‘closing the gap’ emphasise and the use of social indicators of mainstream society which reflects deficit or dysfunctional characteristics of Indigenous communities without reference to Indigenous values, lifestyles and local conditions.
What interesting or different insight have you gained about governance in your recent research?
It is very early days in my research.
What theoretical or practical problem to do with governance are you engaging with at the moment?
Because much of my data relies on census information I need to conceptualise my research without falling into the trap of undertaking an analysis of the ‘demography of disadvantage’(Jones, 2004).
Ref: Jones, G. (2004). The demography of disadvantage. Journal of Population Research, 21(2), 107-126. doi: 10.1007/BF03031894