Host to an estimated 840 living languages, Papua New Guinea (PNG), situated on the eastern side of the island of New Guinea within Oceania’s subregion of Melanesia, is known as the most linguistically diverse country in the world. However, this makes operating as a unified state rather tricky.
Fragmentation among social groups is driven by both linguistic and geographical differences—with vast mountain ranges, deep valleys, and scattered islands all contributing to the development of distinct identities. Many experts and institutions, such as The Centre for Strategic and International Studies, fear these challenges may severely hinder PNG’s functioning as a cohesive state, potentially leading to political instability and uneven growth in crucial infrastructure across the country.
Given the complexity of PNG’s statehood, it’s necessary to compartmentalise the situation—separate the man from the mountain and focus on the latter first. PNG is largely mountainous—the New Guinea Highlands split the island into a distinct north and south. The island is also covered by dense rainforest, with over 85% of the population living in rural areas, most of whom have never left their mountain valley birthplaces. This isolation fosters distinct, localised identities, rendering the idea of a unified national identity remote and abstract for much of the population.
However, the failures of PNG in state-building cannot be attributed solely to its extreme geography; the state which PNG shares the island of New Guinea with—Indonesia, has made far more progress in state-building, standard of living and governance despite facing comparable geographical obstacles. The primary problem PNG faces is likely cultural.
Tribes are intricate and distinct to each of PNG’s 2000+, but consistent elements shine through. Organised into ‘segmentary lineages,’ tribes trace their lineage to a common ancestor and are known as wantoks in Tok Pisin, or New Guinea Pidgin. Wantoks are led by a trusted ‘Big Man’, an earned, not inherited, position—typically acquired from magico-religious influence, fight leadership, charisma, and sometimes wealth.
These tribal arrangements have had a massive impact on how PNG operates as a democratic state. Voters, especially outside the capital city of Port Moresby, typically support their Big Man (and occasional Big Woman), who, if elected, usually only adheres responsibility towards their wantok. This sectarian attitude is likely why no political party in PNG has ever won a majority in parliamentary elections. However, these socio-political barriers may be beginning to break down, as in the most recent 2022 general election, the Pangu Party, led by James Marape, won 39 of the 118 seats – the highest number of seats ever won by a party in PNG’s (albeit young) history of democracy.
Ethnic diversity and tribe-focused ideation have led to widespread conflict throughout PNG. Recently, on the 16th of September, between 20-50 people were killed in the Porgera Valley as a result of tribes warring over mining access, with each tribe making claims for inherited ownership of the land. The International Committee of the Red Cross claims that in 2021 alone, approximately 30,000 people were displaced due to violence in areas where the organisation operated. The article also noted a shift in how inter-tribe conflicts play out, as more outside communication, traditional tribal leaders’ influence can wane, and modern weapons have increased the danger to life during hostile engagements. Furthermore, modernisation and competition for resources have led to a ‘retribalisation’ of society, especially in the Highlands.
Though no clear plans exist to reshape PNG’s culture for enhanced social cohesion between tribes, organisations and local governments are enacting some initiatives to promote peace, state-building and democracy. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been carrying out conflict mitigation projects to promote peace in PNG for decades, and groups have emerged like KGWan, made up of representatives from different clans to oversee land management—a critical factor in tribal conflicts, due to no clear laws or recordings on ownership of land.
Papua New Guinea’s road to a unified and stable state is long, and blocked by deep-rooted tribalism and geographical fragmentation. Though tribal identities still dominate politics, peace-making initiatives and electoral shifts may indicate a step forward. Politicians and organisations must carefully balance PNG’s unique cultural diversity while striving for a more robust, more able governance that can foster the development of a cohesive national identity.