The course provides an overview of the geography, politics and contemporary history of the culture region known as Melanesia, with a particular focus on Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.  It focuses on a critical and multidisciplinary exploration of four key themes in contemporary Melanesia: development, governance, conflict and Australia's engagements with the region.

The course engages the disciplinary lenses of geography, anthropology, and political science. A number of guest lectures are given by some of the ANU's leading Pacific Islands scholars.

Students will develop:

An understanding of the key academic and policy debates relating to the four themes examined in the course;

An appreciation of the deeply contested nature of knowledge about Melanesia;

An appreciation of the diversity of views and perspectives on the region. including indigenous perspectives;

A familiarization with some of the basic tools and methodological approaches of the social science disciplines that engage with Melanesia, especially geography, anthropology and political science.

Attendance and participation (10%),

Reflective Reading Journal (30%)

Essay of 2,000 words (30%)

Examination (30%)

Prerequisites: 36 units