This course focuses on some of the contemporary debates in the Pacific region in three key areas - climate change, gender, conflict and security - in order to shed light on decision-making processes in the region and the complex dynamics within which these issues and these processes are embedded. The course then turns to three four key actors in the region – China, Australia, Papua New Guinea and churches to examine the crowded geo-politics and partners in the Pacific and the policy-making structures of these key actors as they seek to shape and influence the region.
Topics covered under the course:
- Climate change in the Pacific
- Gender in the Pacific
- Conflict/security in the Pacific
- China, an emerging new partner in the Pacific
- Papua New Guinea, why it matters
- What role do churches play as key actors in the Pacific?
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Understand and discuss the range and diversity of social, governance and development challenges facing the Pacific
- Appraise and gain insights into the pressures and incentives that bear on decision-making in Pacific Islands governments
- Understand and describe the complexity of policymaking in the Pacific, including styles of decision-making in Pacific governments
Indicative Assessment
- Thematic briefing paper (2,500 words) (70) [LO 1,2,3]
- Presentation on a thematic issue (10 minute) (30) [LO 1]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
This course comprises some 65 hours of activity over 12 weeks, both interactive/seminar based and independent research. The course comprises a maximum of 3k words of assessment or the equivalent. Please note this is a general guide, averaged over the semester and the final hours ultimately depend on the individual's ability in reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
None required
Preliminary Reading
1. James Batley, Getting realistic about the South Pacific
2. George Carter, Establishing a Pacific Voice in Climate Change Negotiations?
3. Sinclair Dinnen, Doug Porter and Caroline Sage, Conflict in Melanesia: Themes and Lessons
4. Graeme Dobell, The hierarchy of threats, risks and challenges in the South Pacific.
5. Aletia Dundas, Faith and health in the time of COVID-19
6. Manfred Ernst, Changing Christianity in Oceania: a Regional Overview
7. Euan Graham , Mind the gap: views of security in the Pacific
8. Little Red Podcast, Step Up or Be Overrun: China’s Challenge for the Pacific
9. Nic MacLennan, Dodging the hard questions in the Pacific
10. Pacific Women, Thematic Brief |Gender and COVID-19 in the Pacific: Emerging gendered impacts and recommendations for response
11. Patrick Nunn, Responding to the challenges of climate change in the Pacific islands: management and technological imperatives
12. Michelle Nayahamui Rooney, How should peace be measured in Papua New Guinea?
13. Michael Shoebridge, Australia’s engagement in the South Pacific: thinking beyond the incremental
14. Ceridwen Spark, “We only Get the Daylight Hours”: Gender, Fear and ‘Freedom’ in Urban Papua New Guinea
15. Denghua Zhang, IB 2020/10 China’s Coronavirus ‘COVID-19 Diplomacy’ in the Pacific
16. Denghua Zhang, IB 2020/03 Assessing China’s Climate Change Aid to the Pacific
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 3 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 3.00 | 0.06250 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $2220 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $3180 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
