Australia’s debate on Chinese Communist Party influence: a study of perceptions of Australia-China university engagement and academic freedom

This thesis examines perceptions of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) influence on Australian universities that have arisen since 2017 and what they reveal about academic freedom. I offer an original typology to present the range of perceptions on CCP influence: Pragmatic, Cosmopolitan, Leftist, CCP-critic, and CCP-friendly. The typology identifies how Pragmatic considerations, that emphasise the economic opportunities that China engagement presents Australia, primarily shape how university leaders, academics, and the Australian government approach China engagement. It also reveals that since 2017, as highlighted by CCP-critics, there have been growing concerns that the CCP threatens Australia's national security.