Comments

Thanks for the discussion on electoral corruption. The term electoral corruption in PNG context comes in different forms and complexity including abusing formal election campaign process and procedure, abusing the electoral system itself, exploiting the security personnel, polling and counting officials during polling and votes counting period to serve one’s interest for political power or grip onto political power. It is actually incited by the sitting MPs and intending candidates so the electoral corruption actually started with this cohort of so call leaders and wana be leaders. The voters, security personnel, electoral and polling officials and the electoral systems itself fall victims to these practices. This is the order of business in PNG elections, if you are a politician or a candidate, you cannot deny going through these electoral corruption at one stage or another. In fact, everyone knew there is laws that governs the conduct of election campaign, polling and votes counting conduct to declare someone as an MP, but no fear, do what you can to get into power is the norms. Later you face the laws and find your way out through. However, how the winning candidate or MP facing the laws (if implicated) is another long journey and that can only be done if someone (a losing candidate) has the resources-money to meet all the legal bills and other expenses to bring a case to court, which in many cases worth more than how much he/she spends on election campaigns. Still in PNG, enforcing current electoral laws or introducing new laws will not deter the corruption in electoral politics. We need to understand the political economy of PNG relating to election and the PNG cultural/traditional practice of leadership.

Jo, this is super fascinating stuff. I think 'ideas-based networks' can be very powerful (in certain contexts) for the setting of aid and policy priorities. My Doctoral research (completed 2014) explored the role of 'epistemic communities' in the construction of policy choice in Pacific island countries. My research found that policy entrepreneurs within key institutions were key to setting the terms of debate about appropriate policy, particularly when those individuals generated a new body of knowledge (through publication), and worked with others as part of a transnational network (thus participating in a normatively powerful 'epistemic community'). Perhaps we can share our ideas 'off-line'. Wes

Thanks Bal, a balanced and eloquent account. Looking forward to the second installment.

Thanks Sergio - our experience is that failing to pay attention to the processes and relationships often causes under-performance in the first place, and can be very time consuming and costly to heal once things have 'broken'. At the same time, partnerships are not an end in themselves, so it is about the balance between delivery/processes/relationships.

Henry, I commend you for your very thoughtful and real questions to the IOM's Director General on real issues and challenges pertaining to the migration and development linkages in our region. I come from PNG and had just completed my thesis at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales on Migration and development in PNG. In my research that also discovered the issues and challenges to the regional seasonal labour migration initiatives by Australia - APSWP and New Zealand's - RSP; are both great initiatives however they still central coordination and planning by Pacific Island countries as much by the host countries given policy shifts and human rights issues of the seasonal labour migrants. I am hopeful the right policies are developed to tackle institutional and capacity issues.

Terry, so far you haven't found the explanation. I whether you could explain Australia's policy in relation to international aid. Is it ignorance? greed? laziness? fear? Enlightened self-interest would entail a more generous policy, so from any perspective it seems difficult to understand.

I met Anthony Clunnies Ross in the Winter of 2001 in Hydro Cliff, Scotland during an course excursion there. He was one of our external visiting Professors who adjudicate on international development economics - IMF/World Bank conditionality and Washington Consensus on structural adjustment programs imposed on third countries. He was Professor of Economics at Clyde Univesrity, Glasgow at that time. As an only international student from South Pacific, I was lonely but when he picked me out and said I must be from Papua New Guinea, I was relieved. He said he taught at the University of Papua New Guinea prior to Independence. He has a great character from the first impression. He has shown he knows great deal about PNG economy. It is sad to hear the news of passing.

While I'm online I'll also note that my total number of women candidates varies very slightly from some other published numbers (i.e. http://www.looppng.com/tags/2017-election-candidate-numbers). When I get better data I'll look into this. For now though the difference is too small to affect analysis.

Thanks David. Point noted. The names are a function of how I store the data in the PNG Election Results database. When I get time, if I can make it work, I'll look into amending the database.

Hi Terence. I don't disagree with your conclusions, but just want to make the point that the Bougainville seat is not a 'provincial' seat (Bougainville not being a province). It is called 'Bougainville Regional'.

That such a blatantly sexist/offensive cartoon escaped all newsroom checks/balances and was actually published — by none other one of PNG's oldest and largest newspapers — could mean the senior editors saw nothing wrong with it. This highlights entrenched attitudes towards women and underlines the dire need for gender-sensitive training for journalists, especially if they are expected to be in the frontline, changing people's perceptions. If the cartoon example is anything to go by, media are reinforcing prejudices, which is a disastrous misuse of media's reach and power to influence.

Look on the bright side Terence: President Trump would be pleased with us as we will soon meet our fair share of defence spending at 2.0% of GDP https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/christopher-pyne/media-releases/budget-2017-18-defence-budget-overview.