Abstract

The production and transmission of knowledge and technology have historically been intertwined with the forces of geopolitics. The emergence of modern universities in Europe during the 12th century was the result of geopolitical rivalry between the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire, while the creation of the modern research university was established as part of Prussia’s (and then Germany’s) rise to great power status. The World Wars, and the Cold War saw intense geopolitical conflict give rise to massive state investments in knowledge and technology creation. Against this background this seminar will examine the contemporary geopolitics of knowledge, examining how geopolitical conflict and rivalry is driving and shaping knowledge and technology creation, and what that will mean for the world of the 21st century.

About the Speaker

Michael Wesley as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global, Culture and Engagement at the University of Melbourne, provides leadership across the University, with overall responsibility for strategic guidance and expert advice on internationalisation and global engagement.

He is also Professor of Politics at the University of Melbourne. His research and writing focuses on Australian foreign policy and international affairs of Asia and the Pacific.

Before joining the University of Melbourne, he was Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. He also held positions as the Executive Director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy, Director of the Griffith Asia Institute at Griffith University, and Assistant Director-General for Transnational Issues at the Office of National Assessments. He has a PhD in International Relations from the University of St Andrews.