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The operation of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) party system is investigated and factors such as absence of labor movement linkages, rapid shift to self government in the 1970's, the role of the wantok system are highlighted as responsible for its weak institutionalization. Progress of contemporary reforms aimed at strengthening political parties in PNG is reviewed the importance of special sets of theoretical tools for analyzing the politics of third wave democracies is emphasized.

This study analyses reform exercises in Papua New Guinea. The measures adopted so far have been extensive. Politically, some of the reforms have been significant in that they required constitutional amendments and bordered on politico-constitutional re-engineering. A number of reforms have led to structural changes since they have altered the power base in the country and among the different levels of government. Economically, some of the reforms promised to be, and were, significant, such as the privatisation of state assets, currency floating and new financial regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]