1. Neo-colonialism, Part 3: Regionalism
His502 Lecture
Week 11
Designed by Dr. Ryota Nishino and Ms. Lalita Sharma
Edited by Dr. Gary Kieffner

2. Regionalism
Pacific Islands putting their ideas, policies and resources together
Originated in World War II
South Pacific Commission (SPC), Founded by:
Australia
New Zealand
United Kingdon (Great Britain)
France
Netherlands
United States of America

3. Regionalism:
Today, SPC consists solely of independent Pacific Island nations. All of the original members are no longer members. Resource development:
Land
Fisheries and marine ecosystems
Social and cultural
Other programmes

4. Regionalism:
South Pacific Forum (SPF), 1971 SPF because most of the original SPC members refused to discuss nuclear testing SPF: heads of region’s governments met annually and discussed matters of common interest. Original members: Tonga, Fiji, Nauru, Western Samoa, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Australia

5. Regionalism: South Pacific Forum (SPF)
SPF also established the South Pacific Bureau of Economic Co-operation (SPEC)
Led research initiatives on alternative energy resources as petrol-based energy is expensive
Also dealt with foreign trade, so that commodities and produce from the Pacific Islands would gain greater access in Australia and New Zealand

6. Regionalism: South Pacific Forum (SPF)
SPF grew as more islands attained independence
Main challenges were to tackle islands’ weakness caused by isolation. Transport network by sea and air were established.

7. Regionalism: South Pacific Forum (SPF)
A fishery agency was established to deal with licences issued to western and Asian nations
By the 1970s, ships from Japan, Korea and the USA were taking too many fish
Fishery agency to manage foreign vessels so that they would honour the island nations’ rights over the 200-mile limit
Also to bring foreign ships under control by issuing licences

8. Regionalism: South Pacific Forum (SPF)
Its regional co-operation led to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, 1985
Banned the manufacture, testing and stationing of nuclear weapons in the region
Was signed by all South Pacific island nations except Marshall Islands
Was also signed by all major nuclear powers: France, Britain, USA, China, USSR

9. Regionalism: South Pacific Forum (SPF)
SPF today is known as Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Fiji was the only member that was ever suspended (not expelled) from the PIF (2009)