The Political Aspect of Paternalism in Papua New Guinea from 1884 to 1975

Papua New Guinea was a colony of Australia from 1884 to 1975. During this period, the Australian government implemented policies of paternalism, which aimed to control and regulate the lives of the indigenous population. This blog will discuss two examples of paternalistic policies in Papua New Guinea: the suppression of intelligentsia and the Protection and Welfare policy administered through the Native Administration Act 1921.

Suppression of Intelligentsia

One of the ways in which the Australian government implemented paternalistic policies in Papua New Guinea was through the suppression of intelligentsia. In 1923, education funding was 18,000 Australian dollars, but by 1937, it had been reduced to a mere 5,000 dollars. This reduction in funding had a significant impact on the education system in Papua New Guinea, as it limited the number of schools and teachers available to the indigenous population. This policy was designed to prevent the development of an educated elite that could challenge the authority of the Australian government.

Protection and Welfare Policy

Another example of paternalistic policies in Papua New Guinea was the Protection and Welfare policy administered through the Native Administration Act 1921. This policy aimed to protect the indigenous population from exploitation by European settlers and to provide them with basic services such as healthcare and education. However, the policy was implemented in a way that reinforced the power of the Australian government over the indigenous population. For example, the policy required indigenous people to obtain permits to leave their villages, which restricted their freedom of movement and made it difficult for them to find work outside of their communities.

Conclusion

The political aspect of paternalism in Papua New Guinea from 1884 to 1975 was characterized by policies that aimed to control and regulate the lives of the indigenous population. The suppression of intelligentsia and the Protection and Welfare policy administered through the Native Administration Act 1921 were two examples of these policies. While these policies were designed to protect the indigenous population, they were implemented in a way that reinforced the power of the Australian government over the indigenous population.

Citations:

[1] https://academic.oup.com/book/6410/chapter/150195679

[2] https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/115128/2/b11197559.pdf

[3] https://pacificinstitute.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/resources-links/DSC_monograph_13.pdf

[4] https://www.jstor.org/publisher/ucal

[5] https://www.jstor.org/subject/politicalscience

[6] https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-review-of-social-history/article/compulsory-mine-work-the-singleparty-regime-and-the-zonguldak-coalfield-as-a-site-of-contention-19401947/1FC960E6208C41EDC3110303BB98EB77