Government legitimacy in Papua New Guinea, 1992-2005

Abstract

Government legitimacy has been problematic in Papua New Guinea due to successive governments failing to adhere to practices that sustain good governance. This article interprets the practices and decisions of successive governments from 1992 to the present that led to the emergence of non-legitimate power. Lack of experience and knowledge are a visible impediment to legitimacy, especially from the perspective of the rural areas. In order to ensure legitimacy, government decisions must comply consistently with democratic and constitutional requirements and thus avoid the appearance of arbitrary decision making. Show more