Comments on: Oceania: The “arc of instability” and the “Africanization of the South Pacific” http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/ Speak Victorian, Think Pagan Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:39:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Jixtor http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-380617 Jixtor Sun, 28 Oct 2007 09:00:04 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-380617 Conflict in the South Pacific should not be paralled with those in other countries. Colonization,fostering racial and social class divides and unsettling traditional structures, is partly the reason why most south Pacific islands countries, upon gaining indepedence had inherited conflicting interests, views, relationships, values, ideologies, beliefs...most of these countries are in a transition in addressing all that colonizers have tampered with Conflict in the South Pacific should not be paralled with those in other countries. Colonization,fostering racial and social class divides and unsettling traditional structures, is partly the reason why most south Pacific islands countries, upon gaining indepedence had inherited conflicting interests, views, relationships, values, ideologies, beliefs…most of these countries are in a transition in addressing all that colonizers have tampered with

]]> By: Pacific Empire » Blog Archive » Congratulations, Coming Anarchy! http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-379968 Pacific Empire » Blog Archive » Congratulations, Coming Anarchy! Tue, 02 Oct 2007 07:47:54 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-379968 [...] Oceania: The “arc of instability”? and the “Africanization of the South Pacific”? (Phil) [...] [...] Oceania: The “arc of instability”? and the “Africanization of the South Pacific”? (Phil) [...]

]]> By: Pacific Empire » Blog Archive » Cursed by riches: Melanesian resource wars http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-377422 Pacific Empire » Blog Archive » Cursed by riches: Melanesian resource wars Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:25:35 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-377422 [...] has been explored in previous Oceania Day posts, conflict in Oceania - particularly in Melanesia - is often related to resources. The prime example is Bougainville, [...] [...] has been explored in previous Oceania Day posts, conflict in Oceania – particularly in Melanesia – is often related to resources. The prime example is Bougainville, [...]

]]> By: Phil (Pacific Empire) http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376519 Phil (Pacific Empire) Sat, 21 Jul 2007 04:41:23 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376519 The more open/connected the Pacific territory, the less likely it is to suffer instability or violence. All of the worst examples of instability or Africanisation have been in independent states. Almost all of the exceptions are French colonies. If there's a lesson, its that regionalism can be good, and colonial rule often brings benefits. There were many excesses in the bad old days of the Pacific, but almost all the remaining colonies and territories are more prosperous and stable than their independent neighbours. The more open/connected the Pacific territory, the less likely it is to suffer instability or violence. All of the worst examples of instability or Africanisation have been in independent states. Almost all of the exceptions are French colonies.

If there’s a lesson, its that regionalism can be good, and colonial rule often brings benefits. There were many excesses in the bad old days of the Pacific, but almost all the remaining colonies and territories are more prosperous and stable than their independent neighbours.

]]> By: Opinio Juris http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376370 Opinio Juris Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:52:37 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376370 <strong>Oceania's Security: Posts on the "Arc of Instability" and the Rise of China...</strong> Coming Anarchy has continued its series on Oceania's security challenges, with a new post each Monday. Last week there was a post (once ...... Oceania’s Security: Posts on the “Arc of Instability” and the Rise of China…

Coming Anarchy has continued its series on Oceania’s security challenges, with a new post each Monday. Last week there was a post (once …...

]]> By: Pacific Empire » Blog Archive » The “arc of instability” and the “Africanization of the South Pacific” http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376288 Pacific Empire » Blog Archive » The “arc of instability” and the “Africanization of the South Pacific” Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:34:39 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376288 [...] guest post for Coming Anarchy. Please check their site if you wish to comment on this post. [...] [...] guest post for Coming Anarchy. Please check their site if you wish to comment on this post. [...]

]]> By: Aceface http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376287 Aceface Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:22:24 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376287 I wouldn't generalize Micronesia and Polynesia with situation in Melanesia.See, I was major in Polynesian ethnology back in college. (Pigeon hunting in Tonga was my thesis).But I wrote that in my library. I would say in most Micronesian and Polynesian islands still have effective chieftain rule both in land tenure and social structure,thus support governance of the law and state. While in Melanesia,where there are much bigger island with more complex ethnicity.such governance by single linga nor tribal group had never existed,especially in PNG.In the Solomons,I believe the center of the social collision can go back to the days of WW2,when Japan(and later the U.S)decide to make airfield in Gudalcanal and brought labor from nearby Malaita island thus brought the seed of ethnic and tribal struggles. So these pretty much fits into the category of Africanization,but I see no such situation in neither Micronesia nor Polynesia. Perhaps the French Polynesians are exceptions for they are basically comtempt of remaining in the status of French oversea prefecture. There was upheaval in the largest island of New Caledonia during first Mitterand term of the early 80's that Kanak gurerillas were trained in Libya and started military campaign.Now NC has calm down(seemingly for the moment)and they are certainly enjoying better standard of living than most of independent states in the region. I wouldn’t generalize Micronesia and Polynesia with situation in Melanesia.See, I was major in Polynesian ethnology back in college.
(Pigeon hunting in Tonga was my thesis).But I wrote that in my library.

I would say in most Micronesian and Polynesian islands still have effective chieftain rule both in land tenure and social structure,thus
support governance of the law and state.

While in Melanesia,where there are much bigger island with more complex ethnicity.such governance by single linga nor tribal group had never existed,especially in PNG.In the Solomons,I believe the center of the social collision can go back to the days of WW2,when Japan(and later the U.S)decide to make airfield in Gudalcanal and brought labor from nearby Malaita island thus brought the seed of ethnic and tribal struggles.
So these pretty much fits into the category of Africanization,but I see no such situation in neither Micronesia nor Polynesia.

Perhaps the French Polynesians are exceptions for they are basically comtempt of remaining in the status of French oversea prefecture.
There was upheaval in the largest island of New Caledonia during first Mitterand term of the early 80’s that Kanak gurerillas were trained in Libya and started military campaign.Now NC has calm down(seemingly for the moment)and they are certainly enjoying better standard of living than most of independent states in the region.

]]> By: ElamBend http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376281 ElamBend Mon, 02 Jul 2007 03:48:08 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376281 Curzon, My thoughts exactly. Isn't this slowly happening by necessity through the involvement of either Australia or [sometimes] New Zealand? It seems as if an informal verging toward formal commonwealth of Antipodea might be the right kind of institution to provide stability. Certainly the benefits would outweigh the costs for the Aussies. They could create FOBs to act as pickets and would create a stabilizing presence on their frontier. If their smart, they'd throw in free trade [NZ may have already] and [increased] special immigration status. Curzon,
My thoughts exactly. Isn’t this slowly happening by necessity through the involvement of either Australia or [sometimes] New Zealand? It seems as if an informal verging toward formal commonwealth of Antipodea might be the right kind of institution to provide stability. Certainly the benefits would outweigh the costs for the Aussies. They could create FOBs to act as pickets and would create a stabilizing presence on their frontier. If their smart, they’d throw in free trade [NZ may have already] and [increased] special immigration status.

]]> By: strategist http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376280 strategist Mon, 02 Jul 2007 03:47:28 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376280 Re: "wouldn't these places be better under the rule of some outside power?" An interesting question, particularly asthings seemed a lot more stable during the colonial period (late 19th century up to the 1960s/70s) than they are now. Two factors may explain this. The first is that colonial administrators in the South Pacific, particularly in Melanesia, were relatively thin on the ground. Most people lived in villages under their tribal chieftains, under customary law, rarely saw colonial officials, and were largely left to rule themselves. The second is that the problems that post-colonial states now face are of a different order of magnitude - with larger populations, growing urban areas, greater poverty, the impact of modernity and so on. Post-colonial states have also tried to exercise a greater degree of control over the hinterland, in various ways and for various reasons, and this generates problems. Re: “wouldn’t these places be better under the rule of some outside power?” An interesting question, particularly asthings seemed a lot more stable during the colonial period (late 19th century up to the 1960s/70s) than they are now.

Two factors may explain this. The first is that colonial administrators in the South Pacific, particularly in Melanesia, were relatively thin on the ground. Most people lived in villages under their tribal chieftains, under customary law, rarely saw colonial officials, and were largely left to rule themselves. The second is that the problems that post-colonial states now face are of a different order of magnitude – with larger populations, growing urban areas, greater poverty, the impact of modernity and so on. Post-colonial states have also tried to exercise a greater degree of control over the hinterland, in various ways and for various reasons, and this generates problems.

]]> By: Curzon http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376276 Curzon Mon, 02 Jul 2007 02:01:34 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/oceania-the-arc-of-instability-and-the-africanization-of-the-south-pacific/#comment-376276 <blockquote>Curzon recently posted on how instability spreads. Just a few dozen guns or a few million in bribes in the right hands can be enough to bring down a government, due to the small size and poverty of most Pacific island states, making them almost uniquely easy to destabilize.</blockquote> That recent post of mine did come to mind when I saw your map. This is impolitic to say, but if just a few guns and cash are enough to bring down governments in these Pacific island nations, wouldn't these places be better under the rule of some outside power? On that note, is Micronesia a more stable place because of outside involvement? I note that "The Federated States of Micronesia" is a federation of sovereign state but in "free association with the United States," whatever that really means.
Curzon recently posted on how instability spreads. Just a few dozen guns or a few million in bribes in the right hands can be enough to bring down a government, due to the small size and poverty of most Pacific island states, making them almost uniquely easy to destabilize.

That recent post of mine did come to mind when I saw your map.

This is impolitic to say, but if just a few guns and cash are enough to bring down governments in these Pacific island nations, wouldn’t these places be better under the rule of some outside power? On that note, is Micronesia a more stable place because of outside involvement? I note that “The Federated States of Micronesia” is a federation of sovereign state but in “free association with the United States,” whatever that really means.

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