Matthew has been conducting research on various aspects of the societies and environments of Melanesia since 1997. His masters research consisted of a study of the human and economic geography of a small island in Vanuatu. His PhD research examined the relationships between the state, identity, resources and conflict in Solomon Islands. He has also conducted a number of consultancy assignments in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Research interests/expertise

Resource conflict and identity politics in Melanesia in general and Solomon Islands in particular with further interests in smallholder agriculture, food security and rural development.

Publications

Books | Journal articles | Book chapters | Published conference papers | Conference proceedings | Consultant reports | Book reviews | other | Manuscripts under review

Books

• Braithwaite, J., Dinnen, S. and Allen, M.G., Braithwaite, V. and Charlesworth, H. 2010. Shadows and Pillars: Statebuilding as Peacebuilding in Solomon Islands. Peacebuilding Compared Project Working Paper 7. Canberra: ANU E Press.

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Journal articles

• Allen, M.G. and Hasnain, Z. 2010. ‘Power, pork and patronage: decentralisation and the politicisation of the development budget in Papua New Guinea.’ Accepted for publication in Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance 6: 7-31.
• Allen, M.G. and Dinnen, S. 2010. ‘The North Down Under: Antinomies of Conflict and Intervention in Solomon Islands.’ Conflict, Security and Development 10(3): 299-327.
• Fraenkel. J, Allen M.G. and Brock, H. 2010. ‘The Resumption of Palm Oil Production on Guadalcanal’s Northern Plains.’ Pacific Economic Bulletin, 25(1): 64-75.
• Allen, M.G. 2009. ‘Resisting RAMSI: intervention, identity and symbolism in Solomon Islands.’ Oceania, 79(1): 1-17.
• Allen, M.G. 2006. ‘Contemporary Histories of the Conflict in Solomon Islands.’ 'Oceania, 76(3): 310-315.
• Allen, M.G. 2006. ‘Dissenting voices: local perspectives on the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.’ Pacific Economic Bulletin, 21(2): 194-201.
• Allen, M.G. 2005. ‘Greed and grievance: the role of economic agendas in the conflict in Solomon Islands.’ Pacific Economic Bulletin, 20(2): 56-71.
• Walter A., Greindl G., Tzerikiantz F. et Allen M. 1999. ‘Transformation de la sphère alimentaire au Vanuatu : des moyens nouveaux pour des objectifs identiques.’ Journal d’Agriculture Traditionnelle et de Botanique Appliquée (JATBA) 41(1): 33-59

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Book chapters

• Allen, M.G. and Dinnen, S. (Accepted). Solomon Islands: From Uprising to Intervention. In E. Aspinall, R. Jeffrey and A.J. Regan (eds). Diminishing Conflicts: Learning from the Asia-Pacific. Routledge.
• Allen, M.G. (In Press). The Political Economy of Logging in Solomon lslands. In R. Duncan and S. Pollard (eds). Strengthening Pacific Economic Analysis.Asian Development Bank and The Australian National University.
• Allen, M., Bourke, R.M. and McGregor, A. 2009. Part 5. Cash income from agriculture. In R.M. Bourke and T. Harwood (eds). Food and Agriculture in Papua New Guinea. Canberra: ANU E Press.
• Allen, M.G. 2008. Politics of disorder: the social unrest in Honiara. In S. Dinnen and S. Firth (eds). Politics and State Building in Solomon Islands. Asia Pacific Press and ANU E Press, The Australian National University, Canberra.
• Allen, M.G. 2005. The evidence for Sweet Potato in Island Melanesia. In C. Ballard, P. Brown, R.M. Bourke and T. Harwood (eds). Sweet Potato in the Pacific. Ethnology Monographs 19, Oceania Monograph 56. Pittsburgh and Sydney.

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Published conference papers

• Allen, M.G. 2001. Subsistence or cash-cropping? Food security on Malo Island, Vanuatu. In R.M. Bourke, M.G. Allen and J. Salisbury (eds). Food security for Papua New Guinea. Proceedings of the Papua New Guinea Food and Nutrition 2000 Conference, PNG University of Technology, Lae, 26-30 June 2000. ACIAR Proceedings No. 99, xviii + 892p.
• Conway, J., Allen, M.G. and Bourke, R.M. 2001. Accessing previously unpublished research in PNG. In R.M. Bourke, M.G. Allen and J. Salisbury (eds). Food security for Papua New Guinea. Proceedings of the Papua New Guinea Food and Nutrition 2000 Conference, PNG University of Technology, Lae, 26-30 June 2000. ACIAR Proceedings No. 99, xviii + 892p.
• Grant, I. McL. and Allen, M.G. 2001. Future of cassava in PNG: outcomes from the cassava workshop. In R.M. Bourke, M.G. Allen and J. Salisbury (eds). Food security for Papua New Guinea. Proceedings of the Papua New Guinea Food and Nutrition 2000 Conference, PNG University of Technology, Lae, 26-30 June 2000. ACIAR Proceedings No. 99, xviii + 892p.

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Conference proceedings

• Bourke, R.M., Allen, M.G. and Salisbury, J. (eds). 2001. Food security for Papua New Guinea. Proceedings of the Papua New Guinea Food and Nutrition 2000 Conference, PNG University of Technology, Lae, 26-30 June 2000. ACIAR Proceedings No. 99, xviii + 892p.
• Grant, I. McL. and Allen, M.G. (eds). 2000. Proceedings of the NARI cassava workshop. NARI Proceedings Series, Proceedings No. 3. National Research Institute, Lae.

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Consultant reports

• Allen, M.G. 2010. The Political Economy of Logging in Solomon lslands. Book chapter prepared for the Asian Development Bank.
• Allen, M.G. 2009. The Political Economy of Local Service Delivery in Papua New Guinea. Unpublished background paper prepared for the World Bank.
• Lawrence, D., Allen, M.G. and others. 2007. Hem nao, Solomon Islands, tis taem: reports of the CSP Community Snapshot, Honiara, Solomon Islands.  [Volume 1: Provincial Profiles; Volume 2: Main Report; Volume 3: Provincial Perspectives]. Reports for AusAID, 2006-2007.
• Allen, M.G. 2007. Solomon Islands Political Parties and Groupings. Unpublished paper prepared for the International Projects Office of the Australian Labor Party.
• Allen, M.G., Bourke, R.M., Evans, B.R., Iramu, E., Maemouri, R.K., Mullen, B.F., Pollard, A.A., Wairiu, M., Watoto, C. and Zotalis, S. 2006. Solomon Islands Smallholder Agriculture Study. Volume Four. Provincial Reports. AusAID/Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
• Bourke, R.M., McGregor, A., Allen, M.G., Evans, B.R., Mullen, B.F., Pollard, A.A., Wairiu, M. and S. Zotalis. 2006. Solomon Islands Smallholder Agriculture Study. Volume One. Main Findings and Recommendations. AusAID/Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

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Book reviews

• Allen, M.G. 2005. Crime, Corruption and Capacity in Papua New Guinea. Oceania, 75(3): 304.

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Other

• Allen, M.G. (in press). A long-term engagement: the future of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. Strategic Insight. Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Canberra.
• Allen, M.G. 2008. Land Reform in Melanesia. State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Briefing Note Number 6/2008.
• Bourke, R.M., Woruba, M., Allen, B.J., Allen, M.G., Grau, R. and Hobsbawn, P. 1997. North Solomons Province: Text Summaries, Maps, Code Lists and Village Identification. Agricultural Systems of Papua New Guinea Working Paper No 20. Department of Human Geography, Australian National University, Canberra.

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Manuscripts under review

• Allen, M.G. Greed and Grievance in the Conflict in Solomon Islands, 1998-2003. (under review with University of Hawaii Press).
• Allen, M.G. Is it the Land Stupid? Land, migration and conflict in Solomon Islands. (under review by Australian Geographer).
• Allen, M.G. Rural Development: Back on the agenda in the Western Pacific. (under review by The New Pacific Review).

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Career highlights

• Doctoral candidate, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU
• Research Officer, Department of Human Geography, ANU (2003-2004)
• Regional Development Coordinator, Hassall and Associates (2002-2003)
• Young Professional Officer, ACNARS Project, PNG (1999-2001)
• Masters candidate, Department of Geography, ANU (1997-1999)
  

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