Human Security and Well-being in the Pacific Region

The Pacific region has experienced colonisation, war, conflicts, coups and geo-political tension. This course takes a holistic approach to human security and well-being, moving beyond geopolitics, to examine in-depth the lived experiences of people in the Pacific that are increasingly being affected by the impact of climate change. This involves a critical appraisal of cultural security and of the health, education and justice determinants of human safety and well-being. With one of the highest dependencies on international aid, and often turbulent and precarious state governance, Pacific Island countries have to navigate multiple challenges to improve lives in local communities and across countries. In this course, an intersectoral approach that embraces gender, economic inequality and ethnicity is taken to analysing these challenges. Our frames of reference to explore the social determinants that underpin human security and well-being include the state, the family, the village and urban growth. We will be encouraging students to ask questions about underlying assumptions and biases in how problems are defined and addressed, and the impact this has on policies, programs and practice. The course will investigate how culture, development and politics shape the contemporary security landscape, and identify the critical actors involved in meeting the multi-faceted challenges and achieve sustainable development goals at a national and local level.