ANU Dept. of Pacific Affairs (DPA) formerly State, Society and Governance in Melanesia (SSGM) Program
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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.
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Item Open Access The 1978 Commonwealth Games: How a Boxer Brought a New Country Together(Canberra, ACT : Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, 2016) Zurenuoc, Manasupe; Herbert, FelicityPapua New Guinea (PNG) is a diverse country of over 800 different languages spread over remote and diverse terrain. Bringing a country like this together was always going to be challenging. This In Brief describes how the many differences were put aside when a young boxer from Tsio Island represented PNG, just after its independence, at the Montreal Commonwealth Games.Item Metadata only The 1997-98 drought in Papua New Guinea: failure of policy or triumph of citizenry?(ANU ePress, 2009) Allen, Bryant; Bourke, MikeItem Metadata only The 1997-98 Drought in Papua New Guinea: Failure of Policy or Triumph of the Citizenry?(ANU Press) Allen, Bryant J.; Bourke, R. Michael; May, RonItem Metadata only The 2006 Military Takeover in Fiji: A Coup to end all Coups?(ANU Press, 2009) Fraenkel, Jon; Firth, Stewart; Lal, BrijThis book explores the factors behind – and the implications of – the 2006 coup. It brings together contributions from leading scholars, local personalities, civil society activists, union leaders, journalists, lawyers, soldiers and politicians – including deposed Prime Ministers Laisenia Qarase and Mahendra Chaudhry. The 2006 Military Takeover in Fiji: A Coup to End All Coups? is essential reading for those with an interest in the contemporary history of Fiji, politics in deeply divided societies, or in military intervention in civilian politics.Item Open Access The 2007 Elections in Papua New Guinea(Canberra, ACT: State, Society and Governance in Melanesia (SSGM), Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2008) May, RonaldIn June-July 2007 Papua New Guinea held its seventh post-independence national election. Papua New Guinea remains one of the few post-colonial states with an unbroken record of national elections held on schedule and producing popularly accepted overall results. In 2007 the country maintained this record, successfully completing its seventh election and producing yet another broadly-based coalition government, under the continuing leadership of Sir Michael Somare. As in previous elections in this geographically challenging and socially fractious country, the election in 2007 was marked by problems of logistics, electoral irregularities, and sporadic violence, but less so than in 2002. As outlined below, Papua New Guinea has made a smooth transition to preferential voting, although a number of issues need to be addressed before the next election in 2012.Item Open Access The 2013 Survey on HIV in Tanah Papua: Gender, Ethnicity and 'Casual Partners'(Canberra, ACT : Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, 2015) Munro, JennyIn November 2014, Dr Arnoldus Tiniap from the West Papua provincial health department presented some of the results of the 2013 Integrated Bio-Behavioural Survey (IBBS), which is the most recent Tanah Papua–wide survey of HIV indicators, including HIV prevalence, knowledge of HIV, sexual behaviour and condom use. His presentation was a key component of the workshop 'Developing an HIV Prevention and Control Strategy for Papuans in Tanah Papua' (see Munro 2015).1 It has been seven years since the last IBBS was conducted in Tanah Papua, and the results were greatly anticipated by those in attendance. The results have yet to be made available beyond certain organisations in Indonesia, but this In Brief presents a recap of Dr Tiniap's workshop presentation to facilitate access to this important new data, and to encourage further research on particular themes.Item Open Access 2017 Papua New Guinea General Elections : Election Observation Report(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2018-11) Haley, Nicole; Zubrinich, KerryDelivering a national election “is the largest and most complex logistical operation a country ever faces in peacetime… It involves putting the entire adult population of the country through a proscribed process, under tight timeframes, sometimes as short as one day” (Maley 2014). In PNG the exercise is further complicated by difficult terrain, punishing weather conditions, poor transport infrastructure, extreme linguistic and cultural diversity which manifests as highly variable voter behaviour, inconsistent administrative performance at the subnational level, markedly diverse security environments and severe fiscal constraints, including significantly reduced funding in non-election years and the late and piecemeal release of funds in election years. All of these factors contribute to PNG’s elections being amongst the world’s most challenging and most expensive (per capita) to deliver (DFAT 2013). In mid-2017, PNG conducted its 9th general elections since independence. This report provides an independent research-based assessment of those elections, undertaken by Australian- and PNG-based researchers, under the auspices of the ANU. The ANU was one of several groups, including the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the European Union, and Transparency International PNG (TIPNG), who were invited to observe the elections.1 The 2017 election observation was the third such observation undertaken by the ANU in PNG, and is the most comprehensive observation we have undertaken to date anywhere in the region. Funded in partnership by the ANU and the Australian Aid Program, the 258-person observation team, led by Nicole Haley, head of DPA,2 comprised 32 PNG academics/researchers in team leader roles, 21 ANU-based academics in mentoring roles, 10 ANU undergraduate students, 192 PNG observers recruited from civil society and the tertiary sector, and three ANU support staff. The observation differed from those of other groups in that it employed a mixed-methods approach, involving detailed observation by domestic and international observers from the issue of writs through to the formation of government, key informant interviews and two cross-sectional citizen surveys designed to explore attitudes, perceptions and the ways citizens engaged with and experienced the election.3 In total, over 7500 citizens were surveyed. Their views, experiences and insights inform this report and supplement the observations made by the ANU teamItem Open Access The 2019 National General Election in Solomon Islands - A Personal Perspective: Navigating a Maze of Challenges(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2019) Aqorau, TransformOn 3 April this year, the people of Solomon Islands will go to the polls to elect their representatives in the national parliament for the next four years. The term ‘representatives’ is used loosely here as the typical member of parliament (MP) is elected with just over a third of the votes, meaning the majority of the electors did not in fact choose the winning candidate to represent them. This will be the tenth election since 1978 when the country gained full independence from the United Kingdom.Item Open Access 2019 Solomon Islands National General Elections : Observation Report(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2019) Wiltshire, Colin; Batley, James; Ridolfi, Joanne; Rogers, AthenaThe ANU, through the Department of Pacific Affairs (DPA), conducted a large-scale observation of the election comprising 90 observers, 77 of whom were Solomon Islanders. The observation covered almost a third of the country (15 of Solomon Islands’ 50 national constituencies). Fieldwork was carried out from 23 March to 10 April 2019 in order to comprehensively cover the pre-polling, polling and post-polling periods. The research comprised direct election observations and citizen surveys. In total, almost 5000 citizens were interviewed either before or after the election, and nearly 600 observation reports were completed. In terms of the breath and scope of the data collected, this study represents one of the largest and most comprehensive research exercises to have been undertaken in Solomon Islands.Item Open Access The 2020 Autonomous Bougainville Government General Election: Part 1(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2021-07) Kolova, StevenThis two-part In Brief explores the 2020 Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) general election. This part provides a background to the election, including the postreferendum timing and issues about constituencies and candidates. Part 2 discusses the results and briefly presents some of the challenges in the conduct of the election. The papers draw on some of the findings of research conducted by the author, who interviewed various scrutineers and observers in Buka between 12 August and 23 September 2020.Item Open Access The 2020 Autonomous Bougainville Government General Election: Part 2(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2021) Kolova, StevenThis second In Brief in a two-part series on Bougainville’s first general election after the 2019 referendum examines the election results as well as some issues surrounding the conduct of the election. The election was generally accepted to have been well-planned and successfully administered despite limited resources and COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. That said, a few matters remain before the court of disputed returns regarding allegations of misconduct. These In Briefs are based on the author’s interviews with scrutineers and observers in Buka between 12 August and 23 September 2020.Item Open Access The 2020 Vanuatu Elections: How Did Women Fare?(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 2020-04) Howard, EliseIn the Vanuatu national elections held on 19 March 2020, voters elected their third consecutive all-male parliament. Across 10 of Vanuatu’s 18 constituencies, only 18 women contested the elections and were significantly outnumbered, representing only six per cent of all candidates.1 Women have been absent from national parliament since 2012, and only five women have held a position in parliament since independence.Item Metadata only A Changing Oceania(ANU ePress, 2013) Hegarty, David; D. Hegarty; D. TryonPublication Open Access A Destiny by Choice: New Caledonia’s Riots in 2024(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2024-10-24) Tevahitua, RaihaamanaIn a speech delivered less than a year ago in Nouméa, New Caledonia, French President Macron stated, ‘35 years ago, nothing was written. What you were able to do was to rise above the worst of events, the worst of fears and the worst of divisions; together, we were able to preserve peace … it is a treasure’ (Élysée 26/7/2023). On 13 May 2024, the eruption of violent disturbances across the Greater Nouméa area served as a reminder that the continuation of civilian peace in New Caledonia (NC) is the result of a deliberate and collective decision. This is equally true of its cessation. This crisis is situated within the historical context of the ‘Kanak revolts’ (1878, 1917 and 1980s) and a broader regional trend of increased political violence, characterised by a prevalence of urban riots due to grievances with the state and to ethnic conflicts (Ride 21/11/2022). In particular, the quasi-civil war of 1984–88 in NC led to the attainment of the highest degree of autonomy within the French Republic, and the promise of an independence referendum. The decolonisation process, one of the most protracted of the 20th century, has manifested in the creation of an agency in charge of the retrocession of customary lands, the reallocation of control of the nickel industry, an institutional design that, in retrospect, has favoured ‘independentists’ interests and the organisation of a cycle of three referendums on self-determination (2018–21). Despite these efforts, the ongoing unrest poses a dilemma between the process of decolonisation and democracy. Indeed, the French state has proposed a constitutional reform for provincial elections in favour of an electorate defined by 10 years residence on the basis of economic contribution and social embedding. In this way, Paris appears to equate the political legitimacy of this new electorate with that of a millennial society and a 170-year settlement bound by a ‘common destiny’. Furthermore, the political legitimacy of two referendums (2018, 2020) marked by an 80 per cent turnout is equated with that of the last referendum in 2021 which achieved a 43 per cent turnout due to the abstention of supporters of independence. In light of mounting antagonism between the loyalists (pro-France), the French state and the independence movement, how should we make sense of their power struggle? This Working Paper will attempt to elucidate the underlying factors that precipitated this upheaval, the subsequent repercussions, and the positions of the various actors involved, up until 13 June 2024.Item Metadata only The Abau Open Electorate: A Second Go at LPV(ANU Press, 2013) Anere, Ray; May, R.J.; Anere, Ray; Haley, Nicole; Wheen, KatherineItem Open Access Access to Justice in Post-RAMSI Solomon Islands Part 2: Perceptions of Access to Justice(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2021-09-13) Sloan, Tom; Dinnen, Sinclair; Rowe, MarkThis is the second part in a series of three In Briefs highlighting findings from the Solomon Islands Access to Justice Survey commissioned by the Solomon Islands government and supported by the Australian government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP 2019a). The findings are drawn from the Survey Summary Report (UNDP 2019b). The survey assessed justice needs and barriers to effective dispute resolution, particularly among groups recognised as having unmet justice needs, including women and people with disabilities. This In Brief highlights key survey findings concerning perceptions of access to justice. Interested readers should consult the main study reports.Item Open Access Access to Justice in Post-RAMSI Solomon Islands Part 3: Pathways to Dispute Resolution(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2021-09-13) Sloan, Tom; Dinnen, Sinclair; Rowe, MarkThis is the final in a series of three In Briefs highlighting key findings from the Solomon Islands Access to Justice Survey commissioned by the Solomon Islands government and supported by the Australian government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP 2019a). The findings presented are drawn from the Survey Summary Report (UNDP 2019b). The survey assessed justice needs and barriers to effective dispute resolution in Solomon Islands, particularly for groups with recognised unmet needs, in the period following the withdrawal of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). This In Brief summarises the survey findings relating to pathways to dispute resolution. Interested readers should consult the main study reports.Item Open Access Access to Justice in Post-RAMSI Solomon Islands Part I: Common Conflicts and Disputes(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2021-09-13) Sloan, Tom; Dinnen, Sinclair; Rowe, MarkSolomon Islands’ law and justice sector has received substantial donor support in the two decades since the end of the civil unrest known as the Tensions. Building capacity and coordination across key agencies was an integral part of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). International development partners acknowledge the importance of access to justice for successful peacebuilding. The Australian government views its commitment to the Solomon Islands justice sector as a ‘30-year plus engagement’. Since RAMSI’s departure in June 2017, there has been considerable interest in evaluating progress and addressing ongoing challenges in this area. This is the first in a series of three In Briefs drawing on findings from the Solomon Islands Access to Justice Survey commissioned by the Solomon Islands government and supported by the Australian government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP 2019a). The findings presented in this series are from the national survey reported in the Survey Summary Report (UNDP 2019b). The survey was designed around closed-response questions with preset response options — including a free-text response — that were developed, tested and validated in Solomon Islands prior to their application. Interested readers should consult the main study reports. This In Brief examines the types of disputes commonly reported, who experienced them and their impacts. The following In Briefs in this series examine perceptions of access to justice and pathways to dispute resolution.Publication Open Access Addressing Criminal Deportations to the Pacific Islands(Canberra, ACT: Dept. of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, The Australian National University, 2024-10-01) McNeill, HenriettaIn the last decade, criminal deportations from Australia, New Zealand (NZ), and the United States (US) to Pacific Island countries (PICs) have substantially increased, driven by domestic politics securitising migration and crime. Deportations have raised regional concerns, including fears of potential transnational and domestic criminal activity if there is no formal reintegration support for returnees. Deporting states are key development and security partners to PICs, and should bear responsibility for the consequences of their deportation policies. Most people deported to Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands for criminal activity are males aged 25–35.1 Returnees have been prosecuted, sentenced and incarcerated for their crime(s) in the deporting state, and would otherwise be released as free — if it were not for their non-citizen status. Each deporting state has different criteria and thresholds for criminal deportation, although there are shared features of the overall process. Key problems around criminal deportations are a lack of support prior to deportation; poor information sharing; a lack of financial support for reintegration; and the diplomatic repercussions of deportation policies. This In Brief discusses each of these problems, and summarises policy recommendations for Australia, NZ and the US as major deporting states based on a recent extensive study into criminal deportations to PICs (McNeill 2024).Item Open Access After the floods: Urban displacement, lessons from Solomon Islands(Canberra, ACT : Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, 2016) Keen, Meg; McNeil, AlanThis In Brief documents the challenges government authorities — the Honiara City Council (HCC) and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS) — faced when they created a new subdivision for the displaced, April Ridge, and considers the lessons for more responsive planning.