Pacific Political Instability Overview

Pacific Political Instability Overview

• Twenty-two Pacific nations exist.
• New Caledonia is the only non-independent Melanesian country.
• Political diversity often correlates with instability.
• Nine fully independent countries are Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, and Vanuatu.
• Five states are in a free association with the US/Cook Islands, including Palau, FSM, Marshall Islands, and Niue.
• Eight dependent territories are under US/French control.
• Hawaii and Rapanui are missing from the list.

Main Factors of Political Instability

• Employment is a key factor.
• International immigration presents a challenge.
• Rural-urban migration is contributing to housing and land pressures.

Health and Governance

• Health systems and gender issues are important considerations.
• Corruption is a concern.
• Nauru is increasingly authoritarian.
• Fiji democracy is sometimes influenced by military intervention.
• Political issues affect PNG (poverty, gender politics, and strong kinship).
• New Caledonia (French Polynesia, Hawaii, and New Zealand) have autonomy concerns.
• Melanesia is a political hotspot today.

New Caledonia

• Population of 268,000.
• Kanak (40%) arrived 3,000 years ago.
• Europeans (25%) are descendants of colonists from the 19th century.
• Recent French arrivals ("metros" or "zoreills") live temporarily.
• Other immigrants (35%).
• Kanak youth experience extreme marginalization in society.
• Many Kanaks have only a junior high school certificate.
• Electoral rolls for provincial elections in New Caledonia remain frozen at the 1998 level, per accord.
• 25,000 new voters are expected in 2024, increasing the total electorate.
• Local residents (citizens and 10-year residents).
• The pro-independence movement wants to retain the current electoral structure.
• Accessing information about sensitive issues proves difficult.
• Around 6000 people work in the security sector (including 2500 gendarmes).
• Military figures are at 1650.

Traditional Pacific Politics

• Ancestors' spirits -> kingdoms -> customary areas -> tribes -> family clans.
• Log-gongs are used to call people with decorations representing ancestors.
• Vahiné Pomare IV is a deposed queen of Tahiti.
• Kingdoms and queens: in 2016, Filipo Katoa became the 38th Tu'iagaifo king in Futuna.
• Queen Tenia'makui of Tabwewa village, Banaba.
• King Tupou Vland queen Nanasipau'u of Tonga.
• Fijian Chiefs (1895).
• Customary areas.
• Tribes (chieferies).
• Authority is sometimes hereditary.
• Contact with ancestors' spirits and favors often contribute to leadership.
• Livestock sacrifice and favors shape leadership.
• There are chiefs who are more symbolic, not real leaders.
• 39 languages exist in New Caledonia.
• 8 customary areas, 57 chefferies, and 341 tribes.
• Clans total between 4,000 to 5,000.
• Population of New Caledonia is diverse.

Colonial Politics

• Early settlement (1790-1860) led to Pacific colonization.
• International scramble for influence started in 1788.
• 171 islands form Tonga (45 inhabited).
• Fijian soldiers worked for private British colonizers.
• Traditional authorities were kept by the British as advisors.
• French replaced traditional leaders with colonial policies enforced from Paris.
• 25,000 Pacific islands were grouped by 19th and 20th-century European colonizers.

Vanuatu (Special Case)

• French/English Annexation in 1906.
• Condominium colonization (Franco-British) from 1906-1980.
• Vanuatu became independent in 1980.
• Empire building and increased wealth for Europe were aims.
• Additional populations arrived to foster certain countries.
• Competition among European countries.
• Imposing their own cultures on the locals.
• Exploitation of resources (nickel, minerals, guano).
• Creating infrastructure, like roads and wharves.
• Blackbirding, importing people from Fiji to other places.

Samoa (Special Case)

• Tripartite Convention of 1899 divided Samoa into areas controlled by Germany, the US, and the UK.
• Political and economic development was impacted by the division.
• German Samoa (1899-1919).
• Similar to Australia, New Caledonia was used as a penal colony from 1853-1913.
• English Samoa (1899-1962).
• Kanak majority resided in reserves (10% of land).
• Forced labor, in ranches, plantations, and public works, was assigned to them.

Samoa (1962-Present)

• Universal suffrage arrived in 1962, with voters and candidates becoming Matai'l.
• Two Fautua (highest chiefs) were joint heads of state for life.
• Universal suffrage arrived in 1990, but only matai'i are political candidates today.
• Two political systems now exist: nationally (democratic and chiefly) and locally (village-based chiefs).
• Decolonization details are shown on the 9th page.

Overseas Development Aid (ODA)

• ODA originates mostly from former colonizers. It's financial aid aimed at development, often in regions that were previously colonized.
• The average ODA percentage of Gross National Income (GNI) of recipient countries is 19%.
• Gross National Income considers income generation from within and outside a country.
• Remaining colonial infrastructure still exists.
• The Pacific Forum is now a full member of these former territories.
• Self-determination was a goal.

Positive and Negative

• New presidents from Pacific customary peoples.
• Close ties with former colonizers remain.
• Local politics are often about hereditary chiefs.
• China is investing in Pacific islands
• Christianity is prevalent.
• Corruption in development aid is a problem.
• Indigenous languages and cultures are endangered.
• Colonization depleted most natural resources.