IR theories and PNG plans

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In the Alotau Accord II, foreign policy is listed as a priority sector. The deliverables are; adopting a new national foreign policy and seeking appropriate donor support to partner infrastructure development. The Department of Foreign Affairs is listed as the agency responsible.

Pillar 4 of Vision 2050 talks about security and international relations. We have to make sure that our foreign policy reflects the national interest. Our conduct and management of international relations remains uncoordinated and poorly managed. We have to change this condition.



The Medium Term Development Plan III outlines well its connection to the Vision 2050, the Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). For example, Pillar 4 of the Vision 2050 is connected to the Key Result Area 4 on improved law and justice and national security.

One reason why we need to study the theories of international relations is to help us understand our development plans. As a citizen, you are expected to read and understand the Vision 2050, the NSP 2010-2030 and the Alotau Accord II. Your understanding of our plans will help in the implementation and monitoring process.

Chapter 3 of the MTDP III states that PNG has the potential to become a major economic player in the Asia-Pacific region by virtue of its natural endowments, strategic location, size of landmass, population and human resources compared to other Pacific Islands Countries. Note that PNG is compared to other countries in the region. The variables used are measurable in order to substantiate the claim that we have the potential.

Further more, the US-China trade relationship is mentioned in the same chapter. The competition between these two powerful countries will have an impact on our decision making in the next 5 years. To understand what is happening we can use the theory of rise and fall realism. China is seen as the challenger while the US is the status quo power. 

The recent counter bid by the US, Japan and Australia to help build our national broadband network is a clear example. We decided to uphold our contractual obligation with Huawei. Australia and the US will continue to monitor Chinese involvement in the region. Thus, we need to capture this challenge in our foreign policy white paper.   

As mentioned in the MTDP III, PNG has expanded its relationship beyond our traditional development partners to non-traditional partners, such as India, Malaysia, Israel, Philippines and others. How will we benefit from our partnership with these countries? 

As per Pillar 4 of the Vision 2050, we have done a review of our foreign policy. The challenges and opportunities mentioned above were noted in the review report. Now the Department is in the process of putting together our foreign policy white paper. The review report talked about diversifying and building partnerships for mutual benefit as a foreign policy goal. 

We are looking at the partnership issue from a positivists perspective. Our relations with these countries are not influenced by culture or history but on rational choice. We see that we will mutually benefit from our relationship with them.

Apart from understanding our national plans, the Pillar 4 of the Vision 2050 talked about creating a cadre of diplomats and an accompanying National Foreign Service structure. Pillar 4 also talks about funding as a critical element. We also need to create a cadre of IR scholars and researchers to help make the conversation about our IR ongoing with the aim to better influence public policy. 

Our program and the graduates will play a pivotal role in the years to come. We now need to start doing further research on issues highlighted in our various development plans in order to help influence policy. To do that we will need to partner with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Planning and Monitoring including other important government and non-government agencies.    

To concluded, we need to understand the theories of IR because it will help us to frame our plans and policies. If you read through all the plans and policies the authors talk about our relations with other state and non-state actors. As such, a good understanding of positivist and post-positivist theories will help us to develop a deeper understanding of the current international political climate. 

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