This presentation delves into the intricate social identities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and focuses on the challenges and negotiations between dynamic local identities with state politics and development policies and processes in PNG. Using tok stori methodology, the research explores relationships between multiple layers of identities and state development policies of redistribution of resources, and their role as drivers in movements for greater decentralisation via special autonomy in the subnational island jurisdictions of East New Britain Province (ENB) and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB).

The location-specific focus of this research seeks to understand what Indigenous peoples in these provinces hope to gain through special autonomy and the dynamics between local identities and government development. This examination of the interfaces between identities, development, and decentralisation and how they are strategized within provincial and state governments will shed light on the contemporary dynamics of the state of PNG as we ask the question, “autonomy for what?”.

The monthly ANU-UPNG seminar series is part of the partnership between the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy and the UPNG, supported by the PNG-Aus Partnership.

The seminars are hybrid events, held in ANU, at the MBA Suite in the SBPP building at the University of PNG, and online. The time zone for this event in Papua New Guinea is 12.30pm - 1.30pm PGT.