The Political and Legal Studies Division focuses its research programs on improving political governance at the national, provincial and local-level, developing healthy democratic institutions and governance structures and growing an effective and accountable public sector in Papua New Guinea. Divisional expertise is also involved in strengthening political parties, as vital institutions of political governance.

Programs

National and Sub-National Governance
Analysing options for the reform of PNG's decentralised system of governance to improve service delivery and accountability.

Election Studies and Electoral Reform
Examining the electoral processes of PNG and contributing to electoral reform to promote free and fair elections.

Ethical and Effective Governance
A research strategy to improve the conduct of leaders and other public officials and strengthen the law and justice sector to reduce corruption in PNG.

Recent Publications

• Improving the Electoral Roll and Voter Registration in Papua New Guinea Discussion Paper No. 111
• Realigning Electoral Incentives: Lessons for the 2012 National General Election from Conflict Theory and Public Policy Discussion Paper No. 112
• Priorities for a Free and Fair Election: An NRI Issues Analysis. Discussion Paper No. 107
• The 2007 Papua New Guinea National General Elections Domestic Observation Report. Special Publication No. 52
• Profiling Local-level Governments and Districts in Papua New Guinea. Spotlight with NRI, Vol. 3 No. 2
• Options for Increasing Women's Representation at the National and Local-level Governments: The Need for a Comprehensive Analysis. Spotlight with NRI, Vol. 3 No. 3
• The Quest for Good Governance A Literature Survey on the Reform of Intergovernmental Relations in PNG. Monograph No. 40
• Developing a Coherent Policy for the Restructure of Decentralised Government. Spotlight with NRI, Vol. 2 No.1
• Local Government and the Evolution of Local Democracy in Papua New Guinea, 1964-2008. Spotlight with NRI, Vol. 2 No. 2
• Corruption in Papua New Guinea : Towards an understanding of Issues.Special Publication No. 37