Asymmetrical Development across Transboundary Regions: The Case of the Torres Strait Treaty Region (Australia and Papua New Guinea)

Sara Busilacchi,James Butler,Ingrid Van Putten,Joseph Posu,Yiheyis Maru

doi:10.3390/su10114200

Sara Busilacchi, James Butler + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114200

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Abstract

While there is much theoretical study of the evolution of border disparities, there is little empirical analysis of development asymmetries across border regions, and their causes or solutions. Often disparities among countries hinder the ability of transboundary agreements and other development initiatives to generate sustainable development. This study quantifies development progress amongst communities in Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) covered by the Torres Strait Treaty, 26 years after its inception. Using regional census data from 2011 we found contrasting patterns of human development, with markedly poorer education levels in PNG. This asymmetry was confirmed by a Human Development Index of 0.735 for the Torres Strait and 0.270 for the neighbouring province in PNG. From a survey of 1089 PNG households in 2012–2013 we calculated that 63% of people in the villages were multidimensional poor, and 28% were ‘vulnerable to poverty’. Poverty was positively correlated with poor health, which has implications for the control of tuberculosis in the region. While Treaty provisions may have reduced poverty amongst some PNG villages closest to Australian communities, development initiatives by Ok Tedi mine in compensation for its environmental impacts have not. Our study highlights the causes of the sustainable development gap between PNG and Australian communities, and the necessity for transboundary agreements and institutions to have the capacity to adapt to their unintended consequences and rapid global change.

Highlights

The development of many new countries’ borders took place with the dissolution of the colonial empires following World War Two [1,2]
We address the question: to what extent has the Torres Strait Treaty enhanced equitable and sustainable development for populations living in the transboundary region of the Torres Strait? To answer this question, we first quantitatively assess development progress on both sides of the border using census data from 2011, 26 years after the Treaty’s inception
As the ex-colony, we focus on development outcomes in the Papua New Guinea (PNG) communities using the Multi-dimensional Poverty Index, and assess the relative impacts of development initiatives, including the provisions of the Treaty, on poverty

Summary

Introduction

The development of many new countries’ borders took place with the dissolution of the colonial empires following World War Two [1,2]. Despite the institutionalisation of new countries, the colonial empires remained the most significant regulators of economic, political, cultural and military activities [2,3,4]. Borders did not always match the historical, social, cultural and economic constructs of the populations living in the borderlands, fuelling disputes and unrest within these areas [5]. Cross-border disparities become expressed as development asymmetries, for example between China and its fourteen neighbours [6], and between the United States and Mexico [7]. A core aim of many bi-lateral border agreements established between new neighbouring countries is to encourage a unified sustainable social and economic development of populations living on either side of the border.

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