Publication

This paper assesses the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) between 2003-2013, arguing that while it achieved impressive results it was too expensive. It also presents a number of suggestions for Australia for future responses to crises in its region. These include recognizing the value of working with regional partners; avoiding building parallel bureaucracies; and promoting real political change. The author argues RAMSI’s most significant lesson was to highlight the importance of establishing how much to spend and when to leave.