About the Institute

Founded by Professor Teddy Thomas in 1994, the mission of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies (IAPS) is to promote advanced research in the humanities and social sciences, to support and co-ordinate postgraduate teaching and to enhance understanding of the Asia-Pacific across the University of Nottingham and in a broader community. The geographical focus of IAPS is Northeast, Southeast, South, Central Asia and Western Asia (the countries of the Middle East).

The Institute enjoys a generous bequest from the late Sir Stanley and Lady Nancy Tomlinson. This has greatly facilitated the efforts of the Institute to organise events, support research and teaching, promote publications and provide key resources for students and scholars with an interest in Asia-Pacific studies.

IAPS is currently affiliated with the School of Politics and International Relations under the Directorship of Professor Katharine Adeney. As a University wide research institute it brings together members of staff, visiting scholars and students to foster Asian scholarship across disciplinary boundaries.

The development of IAPS is characterised by broad-based research programmes. Members and visiting scholars at the Institute are distinguished by their inter-disciplinary and multi-national research interests and projects. These range from:
• Democratisation in Asia
• Asian film festivals
• Ethnic conflict in Asia
• Chinese foreign policy
• Japanese telecommunications reforms
• Economic co-operation in Northeast Asia
• Financial market development in Southeast Asia
• Counterterrorism and Political parties in Asia
• The transformation of Western and Asian militaries
• Human security and the ‘War on Terror’

The Institute organises an annual Tomlinson Lecture as well as a research seminar series on a wide range of topics. It promotes co-operation in research, teaching and resource development in collaboration with the China Policy Institute and the China and Malaysia campuses of the University of Nottingham.