Comments

Great article, I've gained some valuable insight. I think there can never be a universal definition of the topic 'failed state' as every state has their own problems. However, even if there was one, it would be much more acceptable coming from the state concerned (in this case PNG) after an evaluation of its progress towards achieving its national aims and goals. But for the sake of talking about issues in PNG, maybe the word 'problematic' can be used to set some boundaries, in a sense where PNG has problems that needs attention.

A great initiative to have an article on this. I couldn't agree more. I believe many Papua New Guineans are not aware of this. The notion of having to say that PNG is 'a failed state' is really disturbing for me. And having our former PM openly articulate that PNG is a failed state is more disturbing. It somewhat gives other countries the 'ok' to refer to PNG in such a manner. All the more its mind-boggling to see how other countries can really belittle others just because of superficial mentalities. For me personally, I despise PNG being referred to as 'uncivilized' and now 'a failed state'. Both of these labels I feel are wrongfully put on PNG. There's really more to PNG you know.

A great blog and kudos to all the authors for bringing this subject out.

Great blog. Looking forward to reading more from DWU.

An important blog with noteworthy perspectives and critical thinking applied on a subject so often loosely used. Kudos to the authors and especially the student authors. Looking forward to reading more. Kylie, well done on facilitating such conversation among your students at DWU.

Very happy for you three to point this out for the whole world to see. What's the whole cause of this? Is it jealousy because of our vast natural resources? Is it the level of knowledge, intervention, creativity or capability that we have is less compared to them? Or is it Racism? Or What is continuously suppressing us? Do we have potential? We are all humans.

Hi Scott, I agree with your comment. It is nearly 20 years since child stunting data were published in PNG. I, with the help of the CARE earthquake recovery team, carried our a malnutrition survey of about 400 children less than 5 years old in the Strickland Bosavi Region (SBR) of Western and Hela provinces and that clearly shows unacceptable levels of stunting, particularly in dispossessed children (refugees from earthquake devastation of their villages and gardens) measured at Huiya, Hela Province. I have drafted a blog on this. Importantly, the survey data has guided a small Rotary humanitarian project to alleviate malnutrition I have conducted over the last few years in SBR. I hope to expand this work to achieve sustainable adoption of more nutritious, balanced diets for pregnant and breast feeding women, babies and children less than 5 years old. I think this is an urgent need in many parts of rural PNG.

Thank you, Suzanne, for your reflections.

Thank you for this post. I agree, representations of others as a failed / failing state serves Western purposes in that it says your way of being does not count. "We" know what a state should look like and we have the expertise you need to become like us and, by the way, we have the ODA to help us shape you like us – liberal democratic and free-market oriented - in other words, like a "proper" state. On the one hand, it amazes me that this narrative is taken seriously and on the other it illustrates how power and knowledge come together to determine "truth" and what that "truth" makes possible. But the first step is to shine a light so thanks.

Thanks for your comment Nic. You make a very good point, and that was an oversight. We have now put up a revised version of the blog - and noted that change in a note to the blog - to respond to the point you are making.

This DevPolicy blog completely ignores French Polynesia, which has seen one of the highest total and per capita rates of infection in the region. This is a major oversight in analysing COVID in the Pacific, ignoring possible lessons for other Pacific states in their response. The re-opening of French Polynesia’s borders on 15 July 2020, in line with French policy on “territorial continuity”, led to a massive surge of cases in the second half of the year. Nearly a year later, on 21 June 2021, there were 18,972 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 142 deaths in a population of nearly 280,000. Overall, French Polynesia has suffered about 6,656 cases per 100,000 population (compared to 15.4 per 100,000 in Fiji as of May 2021, before the latest surge). It’s a worrying sign that a lot of commentary continues to regard “Franconesia” as a separate region. Many Australian think tanks, academics and press gallery journalists are fixated on France’s Indo-Pacific strategy and arms sales, but reluctant to discuss major changes in France’s colonial dependencies. There are important lessons from French Polynesia for other Pacific countries and territories about the hazards of opening borders too quickly, the role of militarism and tourism in transmission, but also the importance of mass vaccination as a response (since January, 69,121 people vaccinated, with 58,874 receiving two doses).

It’s no surprise that the Canberra bubble continues to regard “Franconesia” as a separate region, but why have you ignored French Polynesia in your tally of Pacific COVID cases? As at June 2021, French Polynesians had suffered 18,972 cases and 142 deaths, more than other Pacific countries and territories, and a shocking per capita rate for a population of just 280,000 people. After France re-opened its borders on 15 July 2020, cases surged in French Polynesia due in large part to returning citizens and incoming US tourists. Cases peaked last November at a much higher daily rate than the US territory of Guam (one similarity between the two is the role of the military as a vector for transmission to US and French colonial dependencies, as I highlighted last year in "Coronavirus carrier" https://insidestory.org.au/coronavirus-carrier/ . ) The one positive has been a significant take up of vaccines in Tahiti and Moorea – since January this year, 69,121 people have been vaccinated, including a massive 58,874 who have received both doses. So, important lessons for other countries about the hazards of opening borders too quickly to Trumpian tourists, and responding with mass vaccination programs.