Jack Butcher

Jack Butcher

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

School of Social Sciences

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics


Jack Butcher is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Adelaide. Jack is currently researching the emergence of strategic partnerships in the the Asia-Pacific from 2006-2023 through the case studies of the US, China, Japan, ASEAN, and Australia. His research interests include the international politics of Northeast and Southeast Asia, contemporary international relations and security studies theory, Global (non-western) approaches to international relations and security, strategic cultures, Asia-Pacific regionalism, inter-state diplomacy, strategic partnerships, and alliance formation and persistence.

Jack holds a Master of International Security and a Bachelor of International Studies with minors in Asian and Chinese Studies from the University of Adelaide.

Jack's doctoral thesis focuses on how a complex interplay between power, interest and norms have influenced the emergence and functions of strategic partnerships in the Asia-Pacific through five case studies of the US, China, ASEAN, Japan and Australia. Adopting a pragmatist ethos that seeks to engage theory and policy practice, Jack's thesis makes use of process tracing methodologies through analysis of critical junctures at the regional and unit-levels (state) to explain how risks, threats, interests and norms have interacted to produce strategic partnerships in each entity's strategic doctrines in the Asia-Pacific. 

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - ongoing Part-Time Teaching Lecturer The University of Adelaide
    2022 - ongoing Research Assistant University of Adelaide
  • Language Competencies

    Language Competency
    Chinese (Mandarin) Can read, write, speak and understand spoken
    English Can read, write, speak and understand spoken
    Japanese Can read, write and speak
    Korean Can read, write and speak
    Spanish - Latin American Can read, write and speak
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2022 - 2025 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
    2020 - 2021 University of Adelaide Australia Master of International Security
    2017 - 2018 Tsinghua University China Bachelor of International Studies (Academic Exchange)
    2017 - 2017 Kim Hyong-jik University of Education Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Diploma in Korean
    2016 - 2018 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of International Studies, Minors in Asian and Chinese Studies
  • Certifications

    Date Title Institution name Country
    2019 HSK Level 6 汉语水平考试六级 Hanban/Confucius Institute China
    2018 Certificate IV in TESOL Teach International Australia
  • Research Interests

Part-time Teaching Lecturer & Seminar Leader:

Course Code     Course Title                                                              Year                          
POLIS 7026          International Security                                  Semester 1  2023
POLIS 2140 Australia's Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific     Semester 1  2023
POLIS 7026 International Security Semester 1  2024

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2017 - ongoing Member Australia-China Youth Association (ACYA) Australia
  • Event Participation

    Date Event Name Event Type Institution Country
    2023 - 2023 The Great Decoupling: A New Global (Dis)order? Symposium The University of South Australia & The University of Sydney Australia
    2022 - 2022 12th Australia-China Youth Dialogue (ACYD) Symposium Australia-China Youth Dialogue Australia
    2021 - 2021 Different Histories Shared Futures: Can Australia and China learn anything from each other? Symposium The University of Adelaide Australia
    2021 - ongoing US-Australia Alliance Next Generation Leaders Symposium Symposium University of Western Australia/University of Adelaide Australia
  • Presentation

    Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
    2021 - ongoing Mainstream depictions of Australia in mainland China: A lens through “we-media” Different Histories, Shared Futures: Can Australia and China Learn Anything from Each Other? University of Adelaide Australia

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