Anthony Milner (historian) explained

Anthony Crothers Milner[1] AM, FASSA, FAIIA, FRHistS is an Australian historian of Southeast Asia – concerned primarily with the history of ideas – and a commentator on Australia-Asia relationships. His writings on Malay history and society – and the history of Islam in Southeast Asia – include Kerajaan: Malay Political Culture on the Eve of Colonial Rule (1982), an interdisciplinary (history/anthropology) study, published in a new edition in 2016. He is also co-editor of the series of volumes, Australia in Asia (see below), which examine the role of culture and values in Australia-Asia relationships; and of the Asialink report on Australia-ASEAN relations, Our Place in the Asian Century: Southeast Asia as the Third Way (2012). Milner is professorial fellow and international director at Asialink, The University of Melbourne, and visiting professor at the Asia-Europe Institute, Universiti Malaya. He was dean of Asian studies at the Australian National University (1996–2005), and Basham Professor of Asian History (1994–2013). He is now emeritus professor of the Australian National University.

Milner has been concerned with the historical and cultural processes that shape the Asian region, and which also influence Australia's opportunities and security. In the last few years he has been focused on defining Southeast Asian – especially Malaysian – approaches to international relations and regionalism. He is described, sometimes critically, as adopting a post-modern approach.[2] [3] Milner has been a strong advocate of Track II diplomacy – arguing that the globalising and democratising of international relations demands an enhanced role for non-government interaction.[4] [5]

Milner is co-chair of the Australian Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. He has also played a leading role in the development of the 'Asialink Conversations', and in the establishment of an Australia-New Zealand dialogue with the influential network ASEAN-ISIS. He has been Research Chair of the Australian Institute of International Affairs and editor of the Asian Studies Review of the Asian Studies Association of Australia. Milner has lamented the neglect of Asia education and the general 'narrowing of cultural horizons on the part of the Australian community'.[6] [7]

Milner has also been member at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, and has held visiting professorships at the National University of Singapore (Raffles Visiting professor of history), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Kyoto University, Humboldt University, National University of Malaysia and Universiti Malaya. In 2014–2015 he was Tun Hussein Onn Chair of International Studies at the Malaysian Institute of Strategic and International Studies. In the 1990s, he was director of the Australia-Asia Perceptions Project of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. He has been a member of the Australian Government's Foreign Affairs Council (1998–2008), a panel member on the Australian Research Council, and a member of the Founding Committees of the Government's Australia-Malaysia Institute and Australia-Thailand Institute.

Milner received his B.A from Monash University and PhD from Cornell University under John Legge and Oliver Wolters. He also worked with the leading international cultural anthropologist Clifford Geertz and the prominent historian, Wang Gungwu.

Awards

Awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2007 for "service to education in the field of Asian studies as an academic and author, and to international relations through the development of cross-cultural education and outreach activities".[8] He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia in 1995 and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2017, and was made a National Life Member of the Australian Institute of International Affairs in 2007. He became a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs in 2019. In 2017 he received the prestigious Merdeka Award for "outstanding contribution to the People of Malaysia". He was presented with an Honorary Degree as Doctor of Humanities by Universiti Malaya in the same year.

Personal life

Milner is the son of Norman and Audrey Milner. His wife, Claire, is the daughter of David and Freda Dexter.

Publications

External links

Notes and References

  1. [Asian values]
  2. https://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=JShFMBP0h1yVvzvcwM7LYBJSkL9rgyndQD8SMzrRFMj2JfWv3GLG!803386807!-730485045?docId=5001373591 "Autonomous history and ‘The Invention of Politics,'
  3. Illusions of Relevance? An Australian Encounter with Malay History and Southeast Asian Security . 10.1007/s12140-008-9048-x . 2008 . Kershaw . Roger . East Asia . 25 . 2 . 187–210 .
  4. http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/joint/commttee/committee_transcript.asp?MODE=YEAR&ID=142&YEAR=2008 "Australia's relationship with ASEAN, 12 September 2008, Canberra,'
  5. http://www.aph.gov.au/SENATE/COMMITTEE/fadt_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/public_diplomacy/submissions/sublist.htm "RMIT University, Submission to Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Inquiry into the nature and conduct of Australia’s public diplomacy, Submission No. 9, p1"
  6. http://www.aph.gov.au/Hansard/hansreps.htm "House of Representatives Official Hansard", 8 December 1999, p31-33'
  7. http://www.lowyinstitute.org/Publication.asp?pid=522 Howard’s decade: an Australian foreign policy reappraisal,'
  8. https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1134764 Australian honours website: Anthony Milner
  9. [Lope K. Santos]