Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most culturally diverse nations on Earth. With over 800 languages and thousands of clans and tribes, tribalism forms the bedrock of local identity. But while this diversity is often celebrated, its entanglement with national politics has produced a complex web of loyalties and dysfunction. Tribalism is not merely a cultural artifact in PNG—it is a political force. And its impact on state-building, electoral processes, and democratic accountability has been both profound and problematic.
From Hausman to Haus Tambaran: The Political Roots of Tribalism
At independence in 1975, PNG inherited a Westminster-style parliamentary system from Australia. What it did not inherit was the strong institutional culture required to underpin it. In the absence of robust national parties and state institutions, traditional tribal affiliations filled the vacuum. Politics became an extension of local loyalties.
MPs are often seen not as national legislators, but as “big men” whose primary duty is to bring development back to their tribe or electorate. This has reinforced a political culture of patronage rather than performance. The state is viewed less as a neutral provider of public services and more as a prize to be won—and divided—along tribal lines.
Elections: A Contest of Clans
PNG’s elections are perhaps the most visible stage for tribal influence. Candidates rarely campaign on national platforms or policy ideas. Instead, they rely on kinship networks, clan loyalties, and traditional obligations to mobilise votes. In some areas, entire tribes pledge their vote to one of their own, regardless of qualifications or platform.
This has led to a highly localised, fragmented parliament where national interest often takes a backseat to parochial concerns. Coalition governments are notoriously unstable, composed of shifting alliances built not on shared ideology but mutual political convenience.
Electoral violence is also frequently tribal in nature. Disputed results are seen not just as political losses, but as insults to collective identity. The 2022 national election witnessed a spike in tribal violence, with burned ballot boxes, armed stand-offs, and mass displacements in the Highlands. Elections, meant to be peaceful democratic expressions, are increasingly flashpoints for tribal grievances.
Patronage Politics and Service Delivery
In a tribalised political system, public resources are not allocated on the basis of need, but on loyalty. MPs channel constituency funds disproportionately toward their home areas, often neglecting minority groups or rival clans within the same electorate. This breeds resentment, undermines national unity, and reinforces the cycle of exclusion.
Moreover, tribal loyalty can shield leaders from scrutiny. Politicians accused of corruption or incompetence are often re-elected because they are seen as defending the interests of “their people.” National accountability mechanisms—from audits to court rulings—struggle to compete with local loyalty structures.
The Urban-Rural Divide and the Changing Face of Identity
While tribalism remains potent in rural areas, urbanisation is slowly transforming political identity. In cities like Port Moresby and Lae, young people born and raised away from ancestral lands are beginning to express hybrid identities. Social media is also creating new platforms for political discourse, where tribal affiliation is not always the dominant frame.
Yet this transition is uneven. Urban areas may be evolving beyond tribal politics, but rural electorates—where most votes are cast—remain deeply embedded in traditional structures. Without meaningful decentralisation and investment in local governance, the centre-periphery divide will persist.
Pathways Forward: Building a Civic Nation
PNG’s challenge is not to erase tribal identity—something neither desirable nor feasible—but to better integrate it into a functional national framework. This requires political reform that rewards performance over patronage, such as strengthening political party systems, increasing transparency in constituency development funds, and investing in civic education.
Customary leadership can be a source of stability and legitimacy, but it must be harmonised with the principles of modern democracy. Chiefs and clan leaders should not be bypassed—but nor should they be the sole gatekeepers to public resources and political office.
Ultimately, for PNG to mature as a democracy, it must find a balance between cultural diversity and national unity. Tribalism is a powerful social force, but left unchecked in politics, it risks entrenching division rather than fostering development.