The State And Its Enemies In Papua New Guinea

A study of nation-building processes in the young state of Papua New Guinea, and of opposition to these in one of the country's peripheral provinces, Manus. Intense resistance to Lucifer (the state) is offered there by Wind Nation, the old Paliau Movement made famous by Mead and Schwartz.

A study of nation-building processes in the young state of Papua New Guinea, and of opposition to these in one of the country's peripheral provinces, Manus. Intense resistance to Lucifer (the state) is offered there by Wind Nation, the old Paliau Movement made famous by Mead and Schwartz.

This volume brings together a number of papers written by the author between 1971 and 2001 which address issues of political and economic development and social change in Papua New Guinea.

On the eve of Papua New Guinea's independence in 1975, there were many who predicted political anarchy, with the possibility of an army coup or authoritarian single-party dominance, and economic collapse. Such fears appeared to have been justified when in 1975 the North Solomons (Bougainville) and Papua unilaterally declared their independence. Fortunately, PNG underwent a smooth transition, and in its first decade as a new state enjoyed a high degree of political and economic progress. It remains one of the few postcolonial states that has maintained an unbroken record of democratic governance.

Collection of essays by the post-independence generation of PNG that articulate a vision for the future while at the same time providing an insight into the last 25 years since independence. A state-of-the- nation assessment that also addresses future development.

Twenty-five years after independence, Papua New Guinea is beset by social, economic, and political problems: poverty and inequality, a young and expanding population, a stagnant economy, corruption, and rising crime. The state has not only failed to contain these problems but has become progressively implicated in their persistence. Escalating levels of violence and lawlessness are seen by many as the most serious challenge facing the young country. This book examines these problems of order in light of Papua New Guinea’s remarkable social diversity and the impact of rapid and pervasive processes of change. Three original and strategic case studies involving urban gangs, mining security, and election violence form the core of the work. Each case study looks at particular forms of conflict, and the responses these engender, across different socioeconomic contexts and geographic locations. Empirical data are analyzed through a common framework that employs material, cultural and institutional perspectives, allowing readers to view the three cases through different theoretical prisms, identify linkages between them, and, in the process, build a larger picture of the post-colonial social order. Law and Order in a Weak State charts not only the problems of crime and lawlessness in Papua New Guinea but also the possibilities for constructive, pragmatic solutions. It will be of great interest to scholars, aid and policy officials, and others concerned with understanding the social complexities and challenges of contemporary Papua New Guinea.