The international dimensions of civil war: an analysis of the Bougainville conflict

Abstract

An analysis of the international dimensions of the Bougainville conflict is long overdue. To date most attention has been on the domestic factors that led to violence, erupting in late 1988, and its escalation into full-scale conflict the following year. Commentary on the conflict has stemmed largely from Australian and, to a lesser degree, New Zealand and Pacific academic and media circles, whilst retaining a relatively low attention profile within the regional political arena. Arguably, the commitment shown by Australian and New Zealand Governments towards a peaceful resolution since 1997 revealed to the public a shift in policy. Yet it is important to remember that such action - hitherto constrained by political sensitivities - came late in the piece. The conflict had already continued for the better part of a decade, during which time it received remarkably little scrutiny from either the regional or international community. Why, and to what effects the Bougainville conflict remained the subject of such political disinterest during the early 1990s is a fundamental theme of this paper. Approaching the conflict's causes, course and conclusion from a domestic perspective provides an invaluable insight into the intricacies that often beset civil conflict, but fails to directly address the influence of external factors. The international dynamic aims to address the conflict from an external perspective by examining the actions of external actors that were directly and indirectly involved in this conflict. Certain discussions can, and, in this instance often did, constitute inaction that was of itself influential. This action, or inaction, is the dynamic existing between the international dimensions and the civil conflict in question. Much of the action undertaken during the period of actual conflict can be categorised as external responses or reactions to an internal and immediate situation. However, the Bougainville conflict is also a good illustration of how action taken by external actors historically may influence present-day politics. The international dimensions dynamic comprises both past actions, and immediate responses to provide an additional, potentially significant perspective to the study of civil conflict.