Stephanie Lawson

Stephanie Lawson is an Honorary Professor in the School of International Studies at Macquarie University. Her research focuses on regional politics in Oceania, Melanesian studies, and international relations, with a particular emphasis on decolonization, postcolonial identity, and geopolitical dynamics. She has authored numerous books and articles examining historical transitions in the Pacific, including analyses of Cold War legacies, regional governance, and contemporary challenges in Pacific Island states.

Key research themes include the interplay between colonialism and modern statehood, the role of ethnicity in Pacific politics, and the evolving geopolitical landscape influenced by actors like China and Indonesia. Her work often critiques conventional narratives to highlight marginalized perspectives in regional integration and security frameworks.

• Projects: Active involvement in research projects such as 'Regional Politics in the Southwest Pacific: From Colonialism and Cold War to the Asia-Pacific Century' (2014–present).
• Grants: Leadership in funded studies on topics ranging from West Papua’s regional implications to migrant citizenship debates.

Lawson’s publications include seminal works like Regional Politics in Oceania: From Colonialism and Cold War to the Pacific Century (2024) and International Relations (2023, 4th ed.), which critically engage with global power structures and regional specificities. Her scholarship bridges historical analysis with contemporary policy debates, emphasizing the transformative potential of contextualized political frameworks.