Ronald J. May has been chronicling the politics of Papua New Guinea (PNG) for decades, and this discussion paper constitutes the most recent instalment in that body of work. It is hoped this account of the politics in PNG over the last few years, will assist observers of the latest developments in the fastmoving and frequently unpredictable world of political contestation in PNG.

This paper traces the end of Peter O’Neil’s tenure as PNG Prime Minister, and the change of political leadership to James Marape. The paper poses the question: has there been a shift in political style in PNG since 2017?