Beyond Colombo: Australian Colonial and Foreign Policy in the Age of International Development, 1945-1975

Between 1945 and 1975, the concept of development emerged as a significant feature of international affairs. Academic experts and policymakers conceived of the best ways to promote development in poorer parts of the world, becoming part of what has been referred to as the “age of development”. This thesis examines Australian policy towards Papua New Guinea and Southeast Asia through the lens of development. Through this, it extends the history of Australian aid beyond the Colombo Plan, by bringing foreign aid and colonial policy into conversation. By tying Australian policy to global intellectual and political trends, this thesis sheds new light on policies that have previously been considered in isolation from one another.