Australia and Security in the Pacific Islands

The Pacific Islands region has long been of strategic importance to Australia, and Australia has played a significant role in addressing the security and development challenges in and to the region. The region faces non-traditional security challenges, including human security and the gendered dimensions thereof, climate change, environmental and resource security, transnational crime, and cybersecurity. Given the diversity of the region, these challenges affect Pacific Island states in different ways, and require varied responses. Australia is the largest donor to the region, and is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum. With the escalation of geostrategic competition, more partners have engaged with the region, creating a ‘crowded and contested’ security environment with increased militarisation and development assistance. Pacific Islands states are actively forging their own way, defining their own security priorities and avoiding becoming a ‘pawn’ between great powers. This has led to contested notions of security in the region, between the ‘Indo-Pacific’ and ‘Blue Pacific’ constructions. This course examines Australia’s history and traditional security and development role in the region; the range of security challenges facing the region and responses; differing understandings of security between Australia and Pacific Island states; and the implications for Australia’s engagement with Pacific Island governments and societies. Through innovating and practical teaching methods, this course will enable students to understand how Australia engages presently with the Pacific Islands region, and consider how it might engage with emerging security challenges in the future.