Tradition Versus Modernity in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Adelaide Festival of Ideas session, Elder Hall, 11:45am, Saturday 8th October, 2011. Chaired by Michael Lavarch. Carol Kidu will reflect on the disconnection between tradition and modernity in a culturally diverse nation facing differential rates of change. Many societies that have survived for centuries in traditional time-warps are now coming face-to-face with the bulldozers of the global corporate world. Parallel with this complex macro-interface is another layer of sub-national complexity with the interface of diverse cultures in the melting pot of modern Papua New Guinea. Feelings of uncertainty are probably the norm for the majority, and planning for the impact of that uncertainty is a challenge at all levels of society.