The unrealised potential of local institutions in Papua New Guinea: adopting a bottom-up approach to governance, rule of law, and peace and development

According to the principles of the bottom-up approach to peace and development, true and sustainable development and social harmony can only emerge by individuals taking constructive actions towards peaceful individual and communal governance – something which each individual and each community must realise within themselves and on their own terms. Well-functioning local-level institutions can support this process. In the Papua New Guinean context, however, too little attention has been given to the most fundamental local institutions – the local-level government and the village court – which for the vast majority of people constitute the first point of contact with any formal political and legal system. This paper firstly reviews the operation, institutional framework and potential cooperation of these two local institutions, with a particular emphasis on those institutional aspects by which bottom-up development can take place and be strengthened and enhanced, leading ideally to empowered communities and increasing peace and prosperity. Secondly, it shows that the potential of both the local-level government and the village court is currently greatly unrealised. Finally, the paper aims to inspire, promote and demonstrate ways in which this potential can be realised, using two case studies and a discussion. It is believed that knowledge, awareness and realisation of such potential will promote a greater sense of individual, communal and social governance, and commitment to the rule of law, emerging from the bottom up and fostering social harmony.