Government capacity and citizen expectations in Bougainville: The impact of political autonomy

Abstract

After ten years of civil war (1989-97), four years of protracted political negotiations (1998-2001), and another four years of legislative amendments (2002-05), Bougainvillians now have a government which the majority believe will finally address the issues that underpinned two previous unilateral declarations of independence (1975 and 1990). However while expectations are understandably high, the ABG’s ability to meet citizen expectations is being hampered by the government’s administrative, institutional and financial capacities, the security situation on the island and a very weak economy. The success or failure of political autonomy, and indeed this post-conflict governance structure will depend to a large extent on the type of policies that the government designs and implements as well as its interactions with citizens.