A part of the world brimming with potential, the Pacific is facing some of the world’s thorniest policy problems. From rising sea levels and the looming threat of extreme weather events caused by climate change, to human security and economic management issues, Pacific nations are at a turning point in securing their future, and the decisions their policymakers make today will go a long way to deciding the region’s tomorrow.
In this Policy Forum In Focus section produced in partnership with the ANU Department of Pacific Affairs and the Australia Pacific Security College, experts from the region will examine these decisions, and dig deep into the Pacific and its future. In the process, they can shed light on the problems policymakers face in some of the world’s most unique policy environments, the states of the Pacific.
We hope you find the discussion informative and encourage you to join the conversation.
Professor Meg Keen and Professor Nicole Haley
Joint Editors, Pacific In Focus section
In-country testing is ramping up across the region this week, with testing capacity now restored in Papua New Guinea, Hugh McClure writes.
5 minute read
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Women still lack adequate influence in setting security agendas, yet there is evidence that significant gains can occur when a more gender-sensitive and inclusive approach is taken, Anouk Ride and Meg Keen write.
8 minute read
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Economics and finance | Australia
Decision-makers will need to be well prepared to address the fall-out from the pandemic, Tim George writes.
7 minute read
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New, positive cases of COVID-19 continue to reduce dramatically in the Pacific Islands region, Hugh McClure writes.
4 minute read
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With international help hard to find due to COVID-19, Pacific countries have been forced to go the homegrown route in responding to a more traditional disaster, Ben Bohane writes.
9 minute read
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For the Pacific, COVID-19 is a crisis like no other, with long-term ramifications for the security challenges envisaged in the Biketawa and Boe declarations, Tuiloma Neroni Slade writes.
7 minute read
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Economics and finance | The Pacific
Positive test results for COVID-19 have reduced dramatically in the Pacific region this week, with figures showing a marked slowing in the virus’s confirmed spread.
3 minute read
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With COVID-19 continuing to spread in the Pacific, the region is facing coordination challenges as an increasing number of security partners play a role in managing the pandemic, Hugh McClure writes.
3 minute read
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Government and governance | Asia
Even in a pandemic, the Pacific remains subject to geopolitical bickering, but the region’s response must be driven by Pacific people, Henry Ivarature writes.
9 minute read
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Around the world, countries are going into hibernation to flatten the COVID-19 curve. This week, the Pacific region faced further crisis with a major cyclone, which has complicated the pandemic response and proves other security challenges are not on hold.
4 minute read
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