One of the most beautiful island groups of the Pacific, Bougainville has a remarkable history. Tragically, it is as the site of devastating civil conflict that Bougainville is perhaps best known. In exploring the rich environmental, cultural and social heritage of Bougainville before the conflict, this collection provides an insight into the long-term causes of the crisis. In doing so, it surveys such topics as Bougainville’s prehistory and traditional cultures, the impact of German and Australian colonialism, the attempts by disparate local cultures to find a common identity, the assertion of political autonomy in the face of coercion to integrate with Papua New Guinea, and contemporary efforts to resolve conflict and plan a viable future. A landmark collaboration between expert commentators on Bougainville and Bougainvilleans themselves, this volume provides a comprehensive picture for those seeking to understand Bougainville’s history and future directions. Bougainville before the conflict was published in association with the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Project, which is supported by The Australian National University and the Commonwealth of Australia.

Based on the true story of the day to day events of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldiers; they were sent on a mission to solve a problem without first solving their in-house problem. Loyal as they went, they met their fate on a brother land. A force that sprung out of nowhere was formed to protect their motherland. It was a civil war: the Bougainville Revolutionary Army against the Papua New Guinea Defence Force which caused the giant CRA Copper Mine, the Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) to close losing billions of dollars. This is the Begining of the Bougainville Crisis.

In March 1997, the Papua New Guinea Defence Force revolted against government plans to use mercenaries to end the war on Bougainville to reopen that island's rich copper mine.

Australia's role in peace-building in the Commonwealth is nowhere more evident than on the island of Bougainville, just hours from north-east Australia off Papua New Guinea's east coast. Bougainville faces huge challenges after 10 years of civil war, but this did not dampen the joyous celebrations last month in Arawa at the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.