Neo-colonialism, Part 1 His502 Lecture Week 9 Designed by Dr. Ryota Nishino and Ms. Lalita Sharma Edited by Dr. Gary Kieffner

Neo-colonialism Pacific Islands have problems with: Economy Political stability Discrimination against women and LGBTQ Health Education The gap between the rich and the poor Unemployment Other problems

Neo-colonialism Markets full of overpriced, low quality goods from Australia, New Zealand and China Shops selling discarded clothing from Australia Aging infrastructure falling apart and newer infrastructure poorly designed and built Terrible roadways and short-sighted repairs Many old and un-roadworthy cars and buses Poor quality houses Lack of things that are made locally

Neo-colonialism Banks owned by foreign banking companies. Profit does not stay in the Islands. Chinese construction companies and industry Tourist hotels and casinos owned by Australian, New Zealand and North American (including indigenous Native American) companies British, French and American education systems

Neo-colonialism Non-government organisations (NGOs) promoting European norms, mores, programmes and governmental systems and interfering with Island cultural, economic, political and other institutions Political and economic pressure from Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain

These are Not New Phenomena Historical continuity: Pacific islands became colonial possessions Ancient Pacifika political systems were appropriated to accommodate colonialism Modes of economic production transformed Social values changed World wars stimulated Islanders to seek and gain independence How independent are Pacific Islanders?

Historical Continuity Pacific Island leaders used nationalism to shore up popular support for economic development and lift newly independent nations from the colonial yoke They believed that a strong sense of nationhood would help create a strong economy so people could reap benefits in everyday life

Historical Continuity But some leaders were unwilling to listen to advice from outsiders or other political parties One-party governments Military dictatorships Civil war For ordinary people on such islands, life was difficult

Historical Continuity Pacific nations once tried to benefit from Cold War politics, foreign trade and remittances The Cold War ended in 1991, but trade and remittances continue Why are so many people in the Pacific islands still poor?

Historical Continuity Social and economic woes. ‘Hell in paradise’ is an expression imposed by external observers. But life has always been difficult for Pacific Islanders Islanders sell the romantic image of island paradise to attract overseas tourists Many islanders struggle to acquire basic household provisions and food, and save money for their children’s education, because government aid is not adequately provided

Historical Continuity In post-colonial Island nations, politicians, policy-makers and concerned citizens debate conflicts between traditional cultural values and those imposed by the West. Contexts include: Political instability Economic development Regionalism Protection of Indigenous Islanders’ Lands, Cultures and Lives

Political Elements Queens, kings, councils of chiefs, and/or clans Colonial or post-colonial administrations Post-colonial constitutions and politics: Independent states modelled their legislatures after the British, French or American systems British system (Westminster system) Palau and Federated States of Micronesia: Congressional system

Western Political Models Westminster model: Members of Parliament (MPs) represent either a constituency or a party Constituency: people living in one particular area. MPs listen to and speak to the people living there, then MPs request the national government to support the requests. If the constituents approve the MP’s performance, s/he will get re-elected In some systems, an MP can be elected from a list of candidates that a party lists

Western Political Models Westminster system: the party with the largest number of seats in Parliament will have the mandate, the right to govern and to form a cabinet. The cabinet includes the Prime Minister and other ministers: Foreign affairs, finances, trade, health, education, defence, etc., as long as the ruling party is the majority

Western Political Models Congressional model: the president (executive) is elected separately from the representatives in the Legislature. The executive also has the right to appoint the cabinet (presidential advisors). The executive and the cabinet hold office for a fixed period of time The executive is not chosen by the Legislature, but is elected by the people

Traditional Indigenous Governments Parliamentary and congressional models are not traditional to Pacific Island nations Traditional indigenous governments: Clans (Mataqali) Queens and kings: Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii Councils of chiefs (Great Council of Chiefs): Fiji, Western Samoa, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu

Traditional Indigenous Governments Councils of chiefs (Great Council of Chiefs): Protect the indigenous rights of First Peoples, their sacred lands (Vanua) and their interests Advise concerning issues of culture, tradition, heritage and Pacific values

Political Instability Colonial powers did not allow representative democratic participation in their parliaments or Congress during most of the colonial period. Only when they were about to grant independence did they impose these western systems of governance on Pacific Islanders. Post-colonial governments usually combined elements of the traditional Pacific government with the imposed system. Syncretic governmental forms.

Syncretic governmental forms (methods of adaptation) In western democracies, equal franchise: “one person, one vote” Special seats in post-colonial Pacific governance: Fiji: one specific seat for Rotuma Kiribati: a specific measure for Banaba Tonga: 1875 constitution, separate representation for nobles and commoners Western Samoa: the franchise is limited to Matai (chiefs)

Political Instability During election campaigns all the candidates tended to promise more or less the same things: economic development and stronger national identities As a result, personality of the candidates mattered more than ideology. So, the contest between two opposing ideologies, communism versus capitalism, did not rank high in the political discussions

Political Instability Candidates and the public began to debate values of traditional Pacific Island society versus modern society Two other themes that the public and politicians discussed were corruption and nepotism. Contradictions between values specific to Western vis a vis Islands cultural groups. Candidates promised big lavish parties for voters. They also gave gifts and cash for votes The public began to expect such treats.

Political Instability 1982, western Samoan Prime Minister was found guilty of extending traditional hospitality after winning his seat. The guilty verdict cost him his seat. Cook Islands election law allowed overseas residents to vote even if they are back only on the day of the election. Sir Albert Henry, premier of the Cook Islands, gave free flights to expatriate Cook Islanders, expecting them to vote for him in return. His knighthood and premiership were removed.

Political Instability Nepotism: the use of official position for personal gain by giving high-paying jobs to family members. Nepotism pervasive in Tonga in the 1970s. Tongan leaders justified nepotism as a Tongan and Polynesian tradition. 1987, Rabuka and the Fiji army threw out an elected government. How did other Pacific nations respond?

Political Instability 1987, Rabuka and the Fiji army threw out an elected government. How did other Pacific nations respond? They did not criticise the coup and were sympathetic for the call for cultural preservation Australia and New Zealand criticised Fiji and imposed trade sanctions Fiji criticised them for meddling with Fiji’s politics. Asian countries stepped in to trade with Fiji.

Political Instability 1999 election, the Labour Party won and its leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, became prime minister. George Speight then led a coup in 2000, taking the prime minister and cabinet members hostage to stop Indian Fijian citizens from holding positions of political power.

Political Instability In Samoa only the Matai could vote in elections. 23,000 titles were registered by 1990. The Village Fono (‘meeting’) Act of 1990 strengthened the power of villages. This act opened up the debate about tradition.

Political Instability In Melanesia the power of chiefs was not as great. In Vanuatu the Vana’aku Party ruled the nation after 1980. In 1990 Prime Minister Walter Lini, leader of the independence movement wanted to give more rights to chiefs, and to tighten freedom of religion. Yet, foreign companies’ tax haven and developing real estate and casinos. A big change from the 1980s when the foreign land title was abolished.

Political Instability PNG independence campaigners in Bougainville. Rich mineral resources such as gold and copper. The mines became a bitter field of tension between local and immigrant workers resulting in conflict between them as well as landowners and the police. Francis Ona formed the Bougainville Revolutionary Army The civil war, ten years of conflict. About 20000 people were killed. Mining operations halted.

Political Instability Solomon Islands independence in 1978 Governments short-lived The question of landownership

Solomon Islands Political Instability Ethnic tensions. Many Malaita islanders moved to Guadalcanal for work and farming Isatambu Freedom Movement: old weapons from WW2 and from Bougainville Approximately 20,000 Malaitans forced out of Guadalcanal, though many of them born there Low-intensity civil war, 1999. Law, order, economy collapsed Australia and NZ deployments to Solomons

Political Instability Weakness of party politics in Melanesian states Politics as personal popularity contests Candidates used parties to serve their own personal ambitions rather than uniting together along a set of policies Not much discipline within parties

What have been the consequences of political instability in South Pacific states?