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 East Asia 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, international relations and security studies theory, Global (non-western) approaches to international relations and security, regionalism, order-building, multilateralism, minilateralism, alliances, strategic partnerships and inter-state diplomacy in East Asia.
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 as a new security practice in East Asia 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.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2024 - ongoing Japan-Australia Dialogue & Exchange for the Next Generation (JADE) Fellow Japan Foundation & the United States Studies Centre, the University of Sydney 2024 - ongoing Lecturer & Course Co-convenor The University of Adelaide 2023 - 2024 Teaching Assistant The University of Adelaide 2022 - 2023 Research Assistant The University of Adelaide 2022 - 2022 Indo-Pacific Fellow Young Australians in International Affairs -
Language Competencies
Language Competency Chinese (Mandarin) Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Japanese Can read, write, speak and understand spoken Korean Can read and write -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2022 - 2025 The University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science 2020 - 2021 The 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 The 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
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Journals
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Books
Year Citation 2023 Gao, M., O'Connor, J., Xie, B., & Butcher, J. (Eds.) (2023). Different Histories, Shared Futures: Dialogues on Australia-China (1st ed.). Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan.
DOI2023 Gao, M., O'Connor, J., Xie, B., & Butcher, J. (2023). Different Histories, Shared Futures: Dialogues on Australia-China.
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2023 Butcher, J. (2023). Grassroots Perceptions of Australia in China During Diplomatic Tensions: A Lens Through “We-Media” Framing. In Different Histories Shared Futures Dialogues on Australia China (pp. 159-177).
DOI2023 Gao, M., Xie, B., O'Connor, J., & Butcher, J. (2023). Different Pasts: The Panda and the Kangaroo. In Different Histories Shared Futures Dialogues on Australia China (pp. 1-14).
DOI2023 Butcher, J. (2023). Grassroots Perceptions of Australia in China During Diplomatic Tensions: A Lens Through “We-Media” Framing. In Different Histories, Shared Futures (pp. 159-177). Springer Nature Singapore.
DOI2023 Gao, M., Xie, B., O'Connor, J., & Butcher, J. (2023). Different Pasts: The Panda and the Kangaroo. In M. Gao, J. O'Connor, B. Xie, & J. Butcher (Eds.), Different Histories, Shared Futures: Dialogues on Australia-China (1st ed., pp. 1-14). Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan.
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Report for External Bodies
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Internet Publications
Year Citation 2024 Butcher, J. (2024). Australia-Vietnam: A partnership made in China?. Lowy Institute. 2022 Butcher, J. (2022). The World Must Maintain Pacific Island Countries’ Collective Agency in International Affairs. Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA). 2022 Butcher, J. (2022). Confluence of the Two Seas: Shinzo Abe's strategic imagination inspired the creation of a new region. Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA). 2022 Butcher, J. (2022). Pelosi’s “symbolic” Taiwan visit leads to a precarious new normal for Indo-Pacific security. Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA). 2022 Butcher, J. (2022). Vietnam’s cautious approach to Quad reflects delicate strategic balance. Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA). 2022 Butcher, J. (2022). North Korea’s New Nuclear Doctrine Renders “Complete Denuclearisation” Improbable. Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA). 2022 Butcher, J. (2022). The Kishida Doctrine: Building Japan’s Security for the Future. Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA). 2020 Butcher, J. (2020). South Korea—Japan Diplomatic Freeze Problematic for US Alliance Network in East Asia. Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA).
| Year | Grant Name | Amount | Awarding Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Adelaide Graduate Research School (AGRS) Travel Grant | $2,600 | The University of Adelaide |
| 2024 | Adelaide Graduate Research School (AGRS) Travel Grant | $2,500 | The University of Adelaide |
| 2023 | China Studies Centre Research Grant | $5,000 | The University of Sydney |
| 2022 | Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend | $32,000 p.a. | Department of Education, Australian Government |
| 2017 | New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant | $3,000 | Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade |
| 2017 | Westpac Bicentennial Asian Exchange Scholarship | $12,000 | Westpac Bank |
Lecturer & Course Co-convenor:
| Course Code | Course Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| POLIS 7026 | International Security | 2025 |
| POLIS 7026 | International Security | 2024 |
Teaching Assistant:
| Course Code | Course Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| POLIS 1102 | Global Politics | 2025 |
| POLIS 7026 | International Security | 2023 |
| POLIS 2140 | Australia's Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific | 2023 |
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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 2024 - 2024 Unidentified Political Objects? Eclecticism & Strategic Partnerships in East Asia: Reflections from China, Japan & ASEAN CEEISA-ISA Joint International Conference University of Rijeka Croatia 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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