Dr. Thiago Oppermann

Biography

Thiago Cintra Oppermann is a Research Fellow at the Australian National University, affiliated with the State Society Governance Melanesia. He completed his PhD at the University of Sydney in 2011, focusing on the transformations of kinship and customary authority systems among Halia-speaking communities in Bougainville, addressing how traditional customs interact with the market economy and state governance. His research prominently features perspectives on the political economy of contemporary Bougainville and the challenges faced by local villagers. Oppermann has supervised research students and has interests in Melanesian anthropology, political anthropology, state ethnography, and social movements in Melanesia. His work contributes to understanding kinship, land tenure systems, and the social dynamics that shape development and political economies in the region.

Research Interests

Experience