Australians studying Asia:
the ASAA 1976-1997

http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/King/King01.html

Rebecca King

Chapter Nine: The Review

The ASAA Review has been produced regularly, three times per year since 1977[1]. This constancy has certainly not been a characteristic of all Association activities and can be attributed to a structured editorial committee (of editor/Publications officer, editors for Area Notes and book reviews and assistants), to the existence of established deadlines, and to the fact that the Review has been the flagship of the Association. The Review has undergone few substantial changes in format and character. It has mostly retained the nature of the Association's earlier publication, the Asian Studies Association of Australia Newsletter[2], which was initiated in 1975 to develop a sense of an Asian studies professional community in Australia. The Newsletter, especially prior to the 1976 conference, was the focus for debate about the direction in which the Association should head.

The Review was developed as a publication that would keep members aware of developments in Asian studies in Australia as well as general ASAA news. The latter was emphasised in John Legge's 1978 'President's Report', which noted the importance of using the Review to keep members informed of Council and Executive decisions[3]. In early issues this was achieved through printing of minutes of meetings though latterly these matters have been encapsulated within the President's Report. ASAA conferences have also been advertised and critiqued by participants in the pages of the Review[4].

The role of the Review in providing members with information about the Asian studies profession in Australia remains although it is increasingly less emphasised. Lists of Australian theses, dissertations and other publications on Asia were a feature of the Review until the early 1990s when these became too numerous[5]. 'Area Notes' for the various regions of study containing information about seminars, visiting scholars and developments in universities regarding regional areas were introduced with the Newsletter. By 1980 these were considered to take up too much space and were abbreviated and no longer were all regions covered in every issue[6]. Regular features, such as 'Asia in Australian schools' and 'Asian art in Australia' had been established by 1984[7]. In the following year a new section headed 'Communications' was introduced in which readers were encouraged to contribute articles on recent developments in their field and debate points of view expressed in feature articles and book reviews

[xx]. The element of critical review or debate on controversial issues has never been developed to its potential, despite the perception by editors that it is an essential task of the Review[9]. The fact that the publication is restricted to three times a year may mean that it is an inappropriate forum for the debate envisioned[10]. This overview might suggest a mundane publication but the Review has not been without controversy: in an article on the Philippines panel of the 1988 Conference the scholarly integrity of paper-giver Al McCoy was questioned. As a consequence the Review faced the possibility of legal action and an apology by the President was published. This ultimately led to the ASAA being incorporated to protect the Review to some extent against any such action[11].

The Review reflects the aspirations and operations of the ASAA as a generalist Asianist body emphasising the interregional and interdisciplinary. Despite the specific regional nature of the 'Area Notes', there were attempts, especially by Jamie Mackie (editor from April 1980 to November 1984[12]), to have articles appealing to the entire ASAA membership, for instance articles around the themes of 'urban bias' and 'orientalism'. Mackie emphasised short pithy articles, but there were attempts later to incorporate longer articles which were more critical, analytical and sometimes more specialist[13]. The inability of the ASAA to encompass the general needs of the teaching profession was recognised in the 1988 editor's report[14].

Domination of the ASAA by regions of study and by the members located in south eastern Australia has also been an issue for the Review. In 1986 the editor's report indicated the editorial committee intended to increase coverage of West, South and Northeast Asia[15].

Book reviews commenced in Newsletter 2 (1) and have been a consistent feature[16], being viewed in 1985 as the most important element of the Review[17]. The book reviews not surprisingly, reflect the membership: in the April 1981 Review the editor noted that many of the book reviews were on Southeast Asia and this resulted from 50 to 60 percent of members working on Southeast Asia. The dominance of book review contributors from ANU was also mentioned[18]. This issue had been raised by Professor Harold Bolitho at a December 1978 Council Meeting[19] and in 1982 the Council reminded the editor that reviews must be spread among the Australian community[20]. This problem was already a concern of the editorial team[21]. In 1994 it was agreed that more overseas reviewers should be sought, especially for Australian published books[22]. The issue of ACT dominance was raised in a different context in 1985 when it was suggested that the appointment of guest editors would allow the extension of some intellectual control to centres outside Canberra[23].

From as early as 1976 the issue of the ASAA publishing a journal, in addition to the professional bulletin which the Review was to become, was raised. The acting editor of the Newsletter suggested that the ASAA consider publishing not a conventional scholarly journal but a more popular publication[24]. This proposal marked the beginnings of a debate particularly evident in the early 1980s and again recently. Whether the ASAA should publish a popular or rather a scholarly journal, in addition to the Review or as an alternative, reflects the continuing tension within the ASAA: of bringing Asia to a wider community and yet also being a representative professional body. It has also raised the issues of availability of enthusiastic editorial members and funds.

A 1977 Publications Committee report recommended that the Association not publish a scholarly journal at least for the next two or three years. The reasons cited were a lack of available funding and administrative resources, a concern that the functional nature of the Review would be at risk, and the fact that there already appeared to be sufficient scholarly journals on Asia. The Council put the matter on hold[25].

At the August 1981 Council Meeting it was resolved that the Review was of major importance for the education and information of members and the wider Australian community[26]. However at a meeting of Council the following year Peter Young, a school teacher, expressed the view that the Review did not appeal to teachers, that it would be difficult to recruit large numbers of teachers to the Association, and that the Review should become a major Asian studies journal. At this meeting Michael Pearson and Al McCoy proposed an alternative journal and it was resolved that a committee be established to investigate the possibility of establishing an ASAA journal. The committee was to consider this with reference to the Review and other possible ASAA publications, in particular a newsletter for school teachers. Some Council members expressed doubts about the practicability of a full academic journal, indicating that strong arguments would be needed to overcome their reservations[27]. At the Council Meeting of August 1983 another subcommittee but with an altered membership, was established to examine the same proposal[28]. The subcommittee published an article, 'An ASAA journal?', in the Review calling for responses to various proposals. Would it be better for the ASAA to produce a twice yearly research journal, publish thematic books instead of a regular journal, expand the academic articles in the Review, or establish supplementary publications? This article highlighted the utilitarian purpose of the Review in terms of communicating with members[29]. The Melbourne China Studies Group expressed the view that the Review should continue as a publication useful for news about the profession, and further noted the lack of obvious demand for another scholarly journal on Asian studies[30]. It was resolved subsequently that there would be no change to the character and format of the Review (and that the ASAA would not sponsor any journal outside of the Association[31]). Instead, ASAA-sponsored books of collected articles on Asian topics, the Comparative series, would be published[32].

ASAA Curriculum Officer Christine Inglis did organise a newsletter for teachers, 'Asia in the Classroom', which was produced by the Curriculum Development Centre with the direct funding of the DEET Schools Division over 1984-1985[33]. After three issues the Centre indicated that it could no longer fund the project. The suggestion that the ASAA take over the publication was rejected by the Curriculum Officer who advised that the ASAA structures and membership would not be able to support it as a viable and effective publication[34].

The matter of a scholarly Asian studies journal resurfaced again recently and the Association has decided finally to change the Review from its newsletter format. The driving force appears not to be a groundswell of opinion that the Association needs such a journal, but increasing costs as the Review has became larger and more ambitious, at a time when universities are reluctant to fund hidden costs. Publications Officer Professor John McKay's report for the July 1996 AGM noted that once the contract with the Monash Asia Institute (where the Review had been based for the last four years) expired in 1997, it was unlikely that the Institute or any other institution would be willing to provide a substantial enough subsidy[35]. At the 1995 March Executive Meeting it was noted that the Association had been approached in the past by publishers Longman Cheshire and later by Carfax Publishing. In discussion it was established that what was being considered was a journal similar to the Journal of Asian Studies of the American based Association for Asian Studies (AAS). A subcommittee was set up to investigate the matter and specifically to report on any changes to membership fees that would result[36]. At a Council Meeting the following day it was suggested that a move to a scholarly journal ought to be a deliberate direction taken by the Association rather than something simply allowed to happen. The benefits of reduced demands on the editorial staff and on ASAA funds were noted[37]. However at the Council Meeting of 19 August 1995, when discussions with Carfax Publishing were reported, there was little support for the proposal and it was agreed to revisit the matter in three years. The perceived advantages of reduced ASAA time and labour commitments, improved overseas marketing and a more professional appearance were considered to be outweighed by the higher charge to subscribers and the lack of established editorial policy[38].

In the event questions regarding the cost, technology, content and editorship of the Review were raised the following year. Three options, were discussed: to retain the Review as a relatively low cost in-house publication of articles, news and reviews; to retain the basic structure but use more paid labour with concomitant increase in membership fees; to change the Review to become an international refereed journal with its production contracted to an established journal publisher[39]. Only the latter was considered viable. In February 1997 Council accepted the Blackwell bid, over that of Carfax, to organise the printing, formatting, advertising and distribution of the Review. It is to retain its name but be published four times a year commencing in 1998. An increase in membership fees across all categories has resulted[40].

An international journal will represent a major redirection, with the demise of news about the Association and profession which has been so much a feature of the Review. The new journal will further fulfil the goal of the Association to bring Asian scholarship in Australia to international attention, an aspect attempted in the publications series, and at a more limited level by promoting ASAA publications at AAS conferences in the United States[41]. The channels of communication for the ASAA as a professional organisation will be through an electronic news bulletin. This move to the use of information technology is already evident with the ASAA home page which includes details of Council members, as well as minutes of Association meetings on the world wide web[42].

Footnotes

[1] See footnote 69 in the Introduction.

[2] The Asian Studies Association of Australia Newsletter will be referred to as the Newsletter hereafter.

[3] Legge, JD, 'President's Report', ASAA Review, vol2, no1, July 1978, pp15-17, p15.

[4] See for instance, ASAA Review, vol4, no2, November 1980, ASAA Review, vol8, no1, July, 1984.

[5] Hooper, B, 'Asian Studies in Australia: Trends and Prospects', Asian Studies Review, vol18, no3, April, 1995, pp72-80, p79.

[6] Mackie, JAC, 'An Editorial Note', ASAA Review, vol4, no1, July 1980, pp1-2, p1.

[7] Mackie, J, 'Commentary', ASAA Review, vol8, no2, November, 1984, pp40-45, pp43-44.

[8] 'Editor's note', ASAA Review, vol8, no3, April, 1985, p1.

[9] Black, I, 'Secretary's Report to the General Meeting of the Asian Studies Association of Australia held at the University of Sydney, 15 May, 1986', ASAA Review, vol10, no1, July, 1986, pp70-71, p70. 'Minutes of the meeting of the Council of the Asian Studies Association of Australia, held on Friday November 30 1984 at the University of NSW'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[10] Conversation with Helen Jarvis, Sydney, 4th August 1997.

[11] Milner, AC and Matheson, V, 'ASAA Review, Report to Council, March 1989'. Private Papers of Helen Jarvis. 'Professor McCoy and the Philippines Panel: Apology and Discussion', ASAA Review, vol12, no1, July, 1988, pp83-88. The Association was incorporated in 1989. Jeffrey, R, 'Report on the question of a permanent secretariat', Asian Studies Review, vol15, no3, April, 1992, pp122-124, p122.

[12] Jamie Mackie was ASAA Review editor from vol3, no3, April 1980 to vol8, no2, November 1984.

[13] Mackie, J, 'Commentary', ASAA Review, vol6, no3, April, 1983, pp45-47, p45. Conversation with Jamie Mackie, Canberra, 4th June 1997.

[14] 'Minutes ASAA Council Meeting, Wednesday 10 February 1988 at the ANU'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[15] 'Minutes of the Meeting of the Council of the Asian Studies Association of Australia, on November 21, 1986, at the University of NSW'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[16] 'Book Reviews and notes', Asian Studies Association of Australia Newsletter, vol2, no1, July 1976, pp33-53, p33.

[17] 'ASAA Review: Editor's Report Meeting of Council 29th November 1985'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[18] Mackie, J, 'Commentary', ASAA Review, vol4, no3, April 1981, pp52-57, p54.

[19] Letter from Harold Bolitho to Howard Dick, 28 January 1983. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[20] 'Minutes of the meeting of the Council of the Asian Studies Association of Australia held on Sunday 5 December 1982 at the University of New South Wales'. Private papers of John Ingleson

[21] Letter from HW Dick to JD Legge, 21 January 1983. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[22] Council Minutes, 28 August 1994. (http://www.ssn.flinders.edu.au/asian/council/94-3.htm) (15/2/1997).

[23] 'ASAA Review: Editor's Report Meeting of Council 29th November 1985'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[24] Acting Editor, 'ASAA needs a journal', Asian Studies Association of Australia Newsletter, vol2, no2, December, 1976, pp3-4.

[25] 'ASAA News November Council Meeting from ST Leong, secretary', ASAA Review, vol1, no3, April 1978, pp15-18, p17.

[26] Ingleson, J, 'August Council Meeting', ASAA Review, vol5, no2, November, 1981, pp45-47, p46.

[27] 'Minutes of the meeting of the Council of the Asian Studies Association of Australia held on Sunday 5 December 1982 at the University of New South Wales'. Private papers of John Ingleson. Ingleson, J, 'Report on ASAA Council Meeting, 5 December 1982', ASAA Review, vol6, no3, April, 1983, pp63-65, p65. The Committee members were: Dr S FitzGerald, Dr A McCoy, Dr MN Pearson, Professor JAC Mackie, and Dr C Inglis.

[28] Ingleson, J, 'Report on ASAA Council Meeting, 12 August 1983', ASAA Review, vol7, no2, November, 1983, pp45-47, p46. The Committee members were: Dr I Black (Chair), Dr C Inglis, Professor P Drake, and Dr A Reid.

[29] 'An ASAA Journal?', ASAA Review, vol7, no2, November, 1983, pp43-44.

[30] The Melbourne China Studies Group described itself as an affiliated group of the ASAA with some sixty members. 'Draft MCSG statement about a proposed ASAA Journal (see ASSA (sic) Review 7 (2): 43-44, November 1983)'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[31] Ingleson, J, 'Report on ASAA Council Meeting, 13 May 1984', ASAA Review, vol8, no1, July, 1984, pp17-18. Earlier on, in 1978, 'modest financial assistance' had been given to the South Asia Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand journal, South Asia. Council had agreed to give $600 per year for 2 years. Legge, JD, 'President's Report', ASAA Review, vol2, no1, July 1978, pp15-17, pp15-16. 'ASAA News November Council Meeting from ST Leong, secretary', ASAA Review, vol1, no3, April 1978, pp15-18, pp17-18.

[32] Mackie, J, 'Commentary', ASAA Review, vol8, no2, November, 1984, pp40-45, pp43-44. Ingleson, J, 'Report on ASAA Council Meeting, 13 May 1984', ASAA Review, vol8, no1, July, 1984, pp17-18. See Chapter Eight: Publications Series.

[33] Conversation with John Ingleson, Sydney, 16th October 1997.

[34] 'Minutes of the meeting of the Council of the Asian Studies Association of Australia, held on Friday November 30 1984 at the University of NSW'. Private papers of John Ingleson. 'Asia in the Classroom', January 1985. Private papers of John Ingleson. Inglis, C, 'Report of the National Curriculum Officer For ASAA Council Meeting 29 November 1985', (attachment for item 11 for Meeting of Council, Friday 29 November 1985, at the University of NSW). Private papers of John Ingleson.

[35] Annual General Meeting Minutes, 10 July 1996. (http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/Minutes/minutes-agm-96-07.html (19/8/1997).

[36] Executive Minutes, 11 March 1995. (http://www.ssn.flinders.edu.au/asian/exec/exec95-1.htm) (15/2/1997).

[37] Council Minutes, 12 March 1995. (http://www.ssn.flinders.edu.au/asian/council/95-2.htm) (15/2/1997).

[38] Council Minutes ('yet to be confirmed'), 19 August 1995. (http://www.ssn.flinders.edu.au/asian/council/coun95-3.htm) (15/2/1997).

[39] Annual General Meeting Minutes, 10 July 1996. (http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/Minutes/minutes-agm-96-07.html (19/8/1997).

[40] Council Minutes, 15 February 1997. (http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/Minutes/minutes-97-02.html (19/8/1997). Reid, A, 'New Directions for new times', Asian Studies Review, vol20, no3, April, 1997, pp149-152, p151. Reid, AJS, 'Message from the President', 1997. Private papers of Rebecca King. Letter from R Hocking (ASAA Treasurer) to 'Dear ASAA member', 1997. Private papers of Rebecca King.

[41] 'President's Report 1986', ASAA Review, vol10, no1, July, 1986, pp67-69, p68. Council Minutes, 6 March 1994. (http://www.ssn.flinders.edu.au/asian/council/coun94-1.htm) (15/2/1997).

[42] Annual General Meeting Minutes, 10 July 1996. (http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/Minutes/minutes-agm-96-07.html (19/8/1997). ASAA home page: (http://coombs.anu.edu.au/ASAA).

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