1.       History, Philosophy, and Asian Values

This area focuses on research that (re)evaluates and examines elements of worldview, ontology, and epistemology that are embedded in the histories and philosophies of Asian countries, regions, and jurisdictions. Studies in this area may discuss elements, ideals, and beliefs in Asian history and philosophies compared with those in the West.

2.       Life, Culture, and Ethnography

The focus of this area is research on describing and interpreting the various forms of the lives of Asian people from ethnographic perspectives and methodologies. Studies in this area may focus on describing the different ways of Asian peoples and discuss differences in how Asian peoples have been represented, perhaps by those in the West.  

3.       Children, Family, and Development

This area focuses on research that understands how Asian children are cared for, raised, and disciplined by their parents, extended families, and society at large. Research in this area may investigate the socialization process of Asian children, Asian parents’ child-rearing practice, and the traditional and changing ecology of developmental environment of Asian children.

4.       Schooling, Shadow Education, Trans-boundary Learning Culture

The foci of this area include research that explains how Asian students are educated both in the public and shadow education sectors. Research in this area my focus on elucidating the public education system (policies, curriculum, and selection process) and its ideals, cultural elements of shadow education practices, and Asian students’ learning culture, which can be characterized as trans-boundary learning.

5.       Migration, Multiculturalism, and Changing Identities

The focus of this area is on research that explores the impacts and dynamics of migration and emigration of Asian peoples. Research in this area may investigate how and why Asian people migrate within and beyond Asia, and how their migration changes Asian societies and the identity formations of Asian people.

6.       Women, Race, and Subaltern Studies

This area invites research examining the under-represented, marginalized, and subalternized lives of people in Asia. Studies in this area may reveal the cultural and institutional domination and/or oppression of under-represented groups of people. We also invite studies on how Western forms of marginalization are interpreted and perhaps practiced in Asian societies. Additionally, we welcome studies that reveal Asian forms of marginalization in terms of culture and history.

7.       Asian I and Autoethnography

This area includes studies that investigate the subjectivity of Asian people and subjectivity formation. Research in this area may discuss how “I” is conceived by Asian people and how their perception of “I” interacts with that of “we.” We also invite studies that theorize methodological approaches for investigating Asian identity and subjectivity, as well as different ways of conducting (auto)ethnography. 

8.       Fieldwork, Representation, and Politics of Writing

This area focuses on the conduct of qualitative inquiry in terms of fieldwork and issues of representation in qualitative inquiry on/about Asia and its peoples. We invite studies that discuss or formulate Asian ways of conducting qualitative research in terms of collecting and analyzing data as well as writing. We also invite conceptual and theoretical discussions on the limitations and politics of using Western languages, such as English, in qualitative inquiry in Asian contexts. 

9.       Ethnic Studies, Post-Orientalism, and Post-West Research

Studies in this area include discourse of ethnic studies that go beyond Western epistemology and worldview. Research in this area may discuss the ethnicity of Asian people and the social formation of and change in ethnicity that are informed by post-Orientalism and post-West epistemology and worldviews. We invite research that seeks the theoretical and methodological advancement of qualitative inquiry in the Asian context and beyond. 

10.     Brave New Asia and Leading Trends

Studies in this area aim to produce Asian knowledge, concepts, and theories that are based on cultural and historical phenomena of Asia. Such knowledge and theories would provide scholars with intellectual grounding for Asian people to understand and explain Asian phenomena. It requires brave thinking and research praxis as it begins from challenging Orientalism within us. This area of study would eventually open new research trends for Asians. Asian research, thus, can stand bravely without reliance on the knowledge and theories of the West.

11.      Asia as Discourse

A research goal of AQIA is to establish new research discourses to consider Asia as discourse. Asia as discourse means that Asia can be considered a source of new discourse—studies in Asia in itself are discourses. Studies under this theme develop new academic discourses in terms of research themes as well as research methodologies. Working for Asia as discourse is will produce academic spaces where Asian history, culture, and contemporary phenomena are considered original and valuable, and not inferior to those of the West.