Types of decisions and the PNG National Refugee Policy

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Mintz and DeRouen (2010) outline well the different types of decisions. 

Heuristic decisions are made while employing cognitive shortcuts or heuristics devices. Heuristics devices are: 
"a range of psychological strategies that allow individuals to simplify complex decisions. Such devices include evaluating people and events in terms of how well they coincide with your belief system, stereotypes, or analogies."
The Munich analogy is a case in point. Many foreign policy decision makers use this analogy to influence the type of decisions they make. In other words, it is a valuable lesson in history that makes a good reference point for decision makers.

The Munich Pact was signed on September 30, 1938, by the Prime Ministers of Britain, France and the leader of the Nazi Party. The aim of the pact was to appease Germany by giving them Czechoslovakia. Both leaders thought that by giving Germans what they wanted, the Germans would be contented and not continue their expansionist foreign policy.

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, which led to the declaration of war two days later by the British Prime Minister. The Munich Pact and appeasement did not influence Germany to rethink its expansionist foreign policy. 

Today, no leader will make the same mistake by giving into the demands of an aggressive state and its leader. The Munich analogy will be used as a shortcut to make a heuristic decision.

I mentioned our case study the National Refugee Policy. Can we say that the policy decision was a heuristic decision? Did our belief of Australia as a 'big brother' or 'former colonial master' influenced us to formulate the refugee policy?

I asked why we did not formulate such a policy when the West Papuan asylum seekers migrated back in the 80s and 90s? What is the difference between the West Papua asylum seekers and those on Manus Island?  In the words of Minister Pato, what is the difference between the Melanesian and the non-Melanesian refugees?

Minister Pato in his foreword said:
"As Papua New Guineans, we are proud of our tradition of providing assistance to people in need. Whether our bond with those needing help is through blood, language, culture or simple common humanity, we do not turn our backs."
Based on Minister Pato's statement, can we say that this belief system of ours caused us to accept the non-Melanesian refugees on Manus Island, and formulate the National Refugee Policy?  I agree that this belief system made the decision to settle non-Melanesian refugees on Manus Island and the formulation of the National Refugee Policy a heuristic decision.

Apart from being a belief system, it is also an analogy. When we go to the 'haus krai' of someone who passed away, we do not go empty handed but take also items in cash or kind to materialize our sorrow. Regardless of where they are from our bond with them prompts us to make an effort to visit the 'haus krai'. What we give in cash and kind is used at the 'haus krai' or used for cultural or customary processes associated with the death of a family member.

We took a cognitive shortcut in making the decision without calculating the cost and benefit of resettling these non-Melanesian refugees in PNG. What are the benefits of resettling these non-Melanesia refugees in PNG? What is the cost of resettling them as well? We will see the effects in the years to come if many of them decide to resettle in PNG.

Like I said in class, from my understanding the decision is also a negotiated decision. After the Australian Government formulated the Operation Sovereign Borders Policy, they had to negotiate with PNG and Nauru. Likewise for PNG, for the National Refugee Policy, PNG needed Australia's financial support in order to resettle the non-Melanesian refugees.

The Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and PNG signed by the Prime Ministers of Australia and PNG is the outcome of the negotiation that took place. The arrangement outlined the practical measures Australia and PNG pursued to combat people smuggling. In particular, Point 7 is connected to our case study:
"Australia and Papua New Guinea take seriously their obligation for the welfare and safety of any persons transferred to Papua New Guinea under this arrangement. Papua New Guinea, a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relation to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, will immediately take steps to withdraw its reservations to the Convention, with respect to persons transferred by Australia to Papua New Guinea under this Arrangement."
Not forgetting Point 8: 
"Australia will provide support, through a service provider, to any refugees who are resettled in Papua New Guinea or in any other participating regional, including Pacific Island, state. Australia will also assist Papua New Guinea in effecting the transfer of those transferees who seek return to their home country or country where they have right of residence."
Therefore, we can also say that the decision to formulate the National Refugee Policy is an interactive decision. Australia came up with its policy to combat people smuggling which affected PNG. PNG had to respond by withdrawing its reservations to the 1951 Convention and its 1957 Protocol. It all relates back to the 'Tempa affair' in 2001 where Australian troops took control of MV Tampa carrying rescued asylum seekers. 

To conclude, the decision to resettle Melanesian and non-Melanesian refugees in PNG is a heuristic decision. It is also a negotiated and an interactive decision according to the distinctions made by Mintz and DeRouen (2010). 

Reference
Mintz, A., & DeRouen, K. R. (2010). Understanding foreign policy decision making (pp. 15-18). New York: Cambridge University Press.

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