Thiago Cintra Oppermann

Thiago Cintra Oppermann is a Research Fellow at the Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University, specializing in Melanesian anthropology and political economy. His work bridges ethnographic analysis of state-society relations with contemporary governance challenges in the Pacific region.

• Education: PhD (University of Sydney), MPhil (University of Sydney), BA(Hons) (Australian National University)

Research Interests: Focus on Melanesian anthropology, Bougainville, political anthropology, ethnography of the state, and kinship systems. His work examines how traditional authority structures interact with modern state institutions and market economies.

Research Trends: Recent publications address democratic processes in the Pacific, post-conflict governance in Bougainville, and the sociocultural impacts of environmental crises. His articles often explore intersections between anthropology, political science, and development studies.

Projects: Currently leads initiatives like the 2025 Improving Political Inclusion and Participation (IPIP) Program and past projects on sorcery accusation violence in PNG. Collaborates extensively with researchers across the Pacific.