Community Order-Making in Melanesia Part 1 –Empirical Findings

Abstract

Green Valley, an informal settlement in the midst of the urban sprawl of Solomon Islands’ capital, Honiara, was formerly known as a difficult place to live. Nighttime brawls, the sale of home-brewed kwaso and rampant petty theft regularly kept families awake and forced small shops to close before dusk. Women felt unsafe walking around, taxis and buses were reluctant to drop people off in the settlement, and the police were not responsive when called. During past episodes of urban unrest, the residents from Green Valley were often the first ones on the frontline. Show more