The Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs (DPA) (formerly known as the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia (SSGM) program) is the leading international centre for applied multidisciplinary research and analysis concerning contemporary state, society and governance in Melanesia and the broader Pacific. Situated within the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, DPA seeks to set the international standard for scholarship on the region. Through its research publications, DPA addresses topics of interest to a wide audience of academics, policymakers and others interested in governance, state and society in the Pacific. Discipline areas include, but are not limited to, political science, anthropology, geography, human geography, law, gender studies, development studies and international relations.

Since its inception, DPA has produced over 500 research publications across various publications series. These include the In Brief series, the Discussion Paper series, the Working Paper Series, the Policy Brief series and research reports. DPA publishes books and book manuscripts, often in collaboration with ANU Press. DPA jointly edits Policy Forum’s Pacific In Focus website. For enquiries about DPA’s publications, please contact dpa@anu.edu.au.