The course examines the contemporary relationships between environment, development and conflict in the culture area known as "Melanesia", with a particular focus on the independant nations of Papua New Guinea, Soloman Islands and Vanuatu. It also looks at Australia's engagements with the region.

The course engages the disciplinary lenses of geography, anthropology and to a lesser extent, political science. A number of guest lectures are given by leading Pacific Islands scholars of the ANU.

Teaching and learning are organised around three case studies in which groups of students take the lead in directing the enquiry. The broad topics of the case studies are land and development, conflict, and Austalia's engagements with Melanesia.

On satisfying the requirements of the course students will be able to:

Demonstrate an awareness of the diversity and complexity of perspectives on key resource management, development, and peace and conflict issues in Melanesia;

Describe and critique a number of different perspectives on these issues;

Articulate their own positions within scholarly and policy debates, and critically reflect on how their thinking has changed and evolved;

Apply some of the tools and methodological approaches of geography and anthropology.

Attendance and participation (10%)

Reflective writing pieces ( 7 x 500 words)  (30%)

Group project (30%)

Position statements ( 2 x 1000 words) (30%)

Three contact hours per week.

6 university courses (36 units).