Who is Leading the Pacific Islands, as a Region?

Canterbury Law Review Vol 18, 2012

10 Pages Posted: 22 Jan 2016

See all articles by Graham Hume Hassall

Graham Hume Hassall

Victoria University of Wellington - Te Herenga Waka - Faculty of Commerce and Administration

Date Written: January 22, 2012

Abstract

It is often remarked that Pacific Islanders identify more with their place of birth and ethnic group than with their nation or with Oceania as a whole, and that more encompassing identities such as a "Pacific Islander" are only established among those who travel abroad, whether for work, education, or other purpose. The Pacific nations have had many prominent leaders at national level, but even in such cases, many of these leaders have worked for constituency-level good more than they have striven for national good; even fewer have served the interests of the Pacific as a whole. This paper thus explores the question "Who is leading the Pacific, as a region?" Global institutions and processes are looking for regionally coherent responses from the Pacific Islands, but whereas some coordinated response is being achieved, countervailing and separatist trends continue to remain significant.

Keywords: regionalism; Pacific Islands studies

Suggested Citation

Hassall, Graham Hume, Who is Leading the Pacific Islands, as a Region? (January 22, 2012). Canterbury Law Review Vol 18, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2720256 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2720256

Graham Hume Hassall (Contact Author)

Victoria University of Wellington - Te Herenga Waka - Faculty of Commerce and Administration ( email )

United States

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