Introduction

The Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is an extremely rare case of a coalition interdicting an insurgency in its initial phase, the time during which movement leaders recruit followers, establish support mechanisms, and ready their forces for overt action. RAMSI demonstrated little hesitation in addressing select social norms working to the detriment of the Solomon Islands' recovery and long-term stability. Ensuring all Solomon Islanders gave up their weapons which meant all but members of the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) was uncontested as first priority; obtaining the surrender of key militia leaders was next in importance. The most influential was the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) that focused its efforts on the capital, enrolling many members of the RSIP and using that access to acquire the organization's military grade weapons, an accomplishment of vital importance in a country with no armed forces.