Ethnicity and Politics in Fiji
Keywords:
ethnicity, political anthropology, neo-traditional system, FijiAbstract
The text aims to introduce the reader to the broad and complex cultural contexts of politics in Fiji, without a knowledge of which is difficult to understand contemporary developments in this post-colonial society. I have concentrated on how the interpretation and reinterpretation of elements of the indigenous culture have affected the spheres of life organized by the state’s political system. For this reason, subjects related to the indigenous ethnic group are represented here more substantially than issues related to other groups. This is justified by the dominant place in politics it has maintained during the post-colonial period. Moreover, the article shows the mechanisms by which numerous political ethnicities were created and managed during the period of Western colonial rule. Also discussed are the implications of this process for intercultural and political relations and for the functioning of a multicultural Fijian state after inde¬pendence. The text is based on research and field study conducted by the author in 2000–2004 on the ethnicity and plural society of Fiji, as well as on the literature in the field and scientific documentation.
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References
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Ahlburg Dennis A., 1995, Income Distribution and Poverty in Fiji, United Nations Development Programme, Suva: UNDP
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Daily Post, 8 October 1993
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Eriksen Thomas H., 1992, Indians in New Worlds, “Indians in New Worlds: Mauritius and Trinidad”, Social and Economic Studies, v. 41 no. 1, 1992
Eriksen Thomas H., 2002, Ethnicity and Nationalism, London–Sterling, Virginia: Pluto Press
Fraenkel Jon, 2001, Redistricting via Coups and Constitutions: The Construction of Ethnically-Mixed Constituencies in Fiji 1970–2001, Paper presented at the ‘Redistricting from a Comparative Perspective’ Conference. Irvine: University of California, 6–8 December
France Peter, 1969, The Charter of the Land: Custom and Colonization in Fiji, Melbourne: Oxford University Press
Frazer Roger, 1986, Fijian Interprovincial Migration and Urbanisation: A Study of Age and Sex Preferences, [in:] Griffin Ch, Monsell-Davis M. eds., Fijians in Town, Suva: Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific
Garrett John, 1988, The Coups in Fiji: A Preliminary Social Analysis, [in:] “Catalyst” 181, Goroka PNG, Melanesian Institute
Ghai Yash, 2000, Implementation of Fiji Islands Constitution, in A. Haroon Akram-Loghi (ed.), Confronting Fiji Futures, Canberra: Asia Pacific Press, Australian National University
Gillion Kenneth L., 1977, The Fiji Indians: Challenge to European Dominance, 1920–46, Canberra: Australian National University Press
Griffin Chris, Monsell-Davis Michael, 1986, Fijians in Town, Suva: Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific
Howard Alan, Rensel Jan, 2001, Where Has Rotuman Culture Gone? And What Is It Doing There? Pacific Studies, Vol. 24, Nos. 1/2 – March/June
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Kaczmarek Łukasz, 2008, Fidżi. Dzieje i barwy wielokulturowości. Poznań: PTL
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Lal Brij V., 2000, Chiefs and Thieves and Other People Beside. The Making of George Speight’s Coup, The Journal of Pacific History, Vol. 35, No. 3
Lal Brij V., 1992, The Broken Waves: A History of Fiji Islands in the Twentieth Century, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press
Lal Brij V., Vakatora Tomasi R. (eds.), 1997, Fiji in Transition, Research Paper of the Fiji Constitution Review Commission Volume 1, Suva: School of Social and Economic Development, USP
Lawson Stephanie, 1990, The Myth of Cultural Homogeneity and Its Implications for Chiefly Power and Politics in Fiji, Cambridge: Comparative Studies in Society and History: vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 795–821
Lawson Stephanie, 1991, The Failure of Democratic Politics in Fiji, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Leckie Jacqueline, 2002, Return to Nukulau. The Troubled Waters of Ethno-nationalism in Fiji. [in:] Kolig E., Mückler H., (eds.), Politics of Indigeneity in the South Pacific. Recent Problems of Identity in Oceania. Munich, Hamburg, Londyn: LIT
Macnaught Timothy, 1982, The Fijian Colonial Experience: A Study of Neotraditional Order under British Colonial Rule Prior to World War II. Pacific Research Monographic Series no. 7, Canberra: Australian National University Press
Norton Robert, 2002, Accommodating Indigenous Privilege: Britain’s Dilemma in Decolonising Fiji, Journal of Pacific History Vol. 372
Radio New Zealand International, 5th August, 2004, “Indian Tycoon Real PM of Fiji, Claims FLPG.”
Ratuva Steven, 2000, Addressing Inequality? Economic Affirmative Action and Communal Capitalism in Post-coup Fiji. [in:] A Haroon Akram-Lodhi (ed.), Confronting Fiji Futures, Canberra: Asia Pacific Press, Australian National University
Ratuva Steven, 1999, Ethnic Politics, Communalism and Affirmative Action in Fiji: A Critical and Comparative Study, Thesis PhD, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex
Ravuvu Asasela, 1995, The Facade of Democracy. Fijian Struggles for Political Control 1830–1987, Suva: Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific
Reeves Paul, Vakatora Tomasi, Lal Brij V., 1996, The Fiji Islands: Towards a United Future: Report of the Fiji Constitution Review Commission 1996, Parliament of Fiji, Parliamentary Paper no. 34 of 1996, Suva: Government Printer
Riles Annelise, 1997, Part-Europeans and Fijians, [in:] Lal B.V., Vakatora T.R. Fiji in Transition, Research Paper of the Fiji Constitution Review Commission Volume 1, Suva: School of Social and Economic Development, USP
Robertson Robert T., 2000, Retreat from Exclusion: Identities in Post-coup Fiji, [in:] A. Haroon Akram-Loghi (ed.), Confronting Fiji Futures, Canberra: Asia Pacific Press, Australian National University
Routledge David, 1985, Matanitu: The Struggle for Power in Early Fiji, Suva: University of the South Pacific Press
Sharma Vidya S., 2010, “Bringing Fiji Back From The Cold” Pacific Media Watch 30 August 2010
Trnka Susanna (ed.), 2002, Ethnographies of the May 2000 Fiji Coup, La’ie, Hawai’i: A Pacific Studies Special Issue Vol. 25, No. 4 December 2002
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), 1997, Fiji Poverty Report, Suva: UNDP
Valentine Charles A., 1970, Social Status, Political Power, and Native Responses to European Influences in Oceania [in:] T.G. Harding, B.J. Wallace eds., Cultures of the Pacific, New York: The Free Press
Ahlburg Dennis A., 1995, Income Distribution and Poverty in Fiji, United Nations Development Programme, Suva: UNDP
Chand Anand, Naidu Vijay, 1998, Legal Aspects of International Migration in Fiji, [in:] P. Brownlee (ed.), “Migration and Citizenship in the Asia Pacific: Legal Issues”, Asia Pacific Migration Research Network, Working Paper No. 5, Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies, University of Wollongong
Citizenship of Fiji Decree, 2009 (Decree No. 23), Republic Of Fiji Islands Government Gazette Published By Authority Of The Fiji Government, Vol. 10, No. 48, Wednesday 8 July 2009
Citizenship of Fiji Regulations, 2009 (Legal Notice No. 38), Republic Of Fiji Islands Government Gazette Published By Authority Of The Fiji Government, Vol. 10, No. 48, Wednesday 8 July 2009
Daily Post, 8 October 1993
ECREA (Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy), 2004, Fiji Poverty Report, Suva: ECREA
Eriksen Thomas H., 1988, Communicating Cultural Difference and Identity. Ethnicity and Nationalism in Mauritius, Oslo: Department of Social Anthropology, University of Oslo
Eriksen Thomas H., 1992, Indians in New Worlds, “Indians in New Worlds: Mauritius and Trinidad”, Social and Economic Studies, v. 41 no. 1, 1992
Eriksen Thomas H., 2002, Ethnicity and Nationalism, London–Sterling, Virginia: Pluto Press
Fraenkel Jon, 2001, Redistricting via Coups and Constitutions: The Construction of Ethnically-Mixed Constituencies in Fiji 1970–2001, Paper presented at the ‘Redistricting from a Comparative Perspective’ Conference. Irvine: University of California, 6–8 December
France Peter, 1969, The Charter of the Land: Custom and Colonization in Fiji, Melbourne: Oxford University Press
Frazer Roger, 1986, Fijian Interprovincial Migration and Urbanisation: A Study of Age and Sex Preferences, [in:] Griffin Ch, Monsell-Davis M. eds., Fijians in Town, Suva: Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific
Garrett John, 1988, The Coups in Fiji: A Preliminary Social Analysis, [in:] “Catalyst” 181, Goroka PNG, Melanesian Institute
Ghai Yash, 2000, Implementation of Fiji Islands Constitution, in A. Haroon Akram-Loghi (ed.), Confronting Fiji Futures, Canberra: Asia Pacific Press, Australian National University
Gillion Kenneth L., 1977, The Fiji Indians: Challenge to European Dominance, 1920–46, Canberra: Australian National University Press
Griffin Chris, Monsell-Davis Michael, 1986, Fijians in Town, Suva: Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific
Howard Alan, Rensel Jan, 2001, Where Has Rotuman Culture Gone? And What Is It Doing There? Pacific Studies, Vol. 24, Nos. 1/2 – March/June
Jenkins Richard, 1997, Rethinking Ethnicity. Arguments and Explorations, London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage Publications
Kaczmarek Łukasz, 2008, Fidżi. Dzieje i barwy wielokulturowości. Poznań: PTL
Kaczmarek Łukasz, 2003, Zarys tradycyjnej organizacji społecznej Fidżyjczyków, „Lud”, t. 87
Lal Brij V., 2000, Chiefs and Thieves and Other People Beside. The Making of George Speight’s Coup, The Journal of Pacific History, Vol. 35, No. 3
Lal Brij V., 1992, The Broken Waves: A History of Fiji Islands in the Twentieth Century, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press
Lal Brij V., Vakatora Tomasi R. (eds.), 1997, Fiji in Transition, Research Paper of the Fiji Constitution Review Commission Volume 1, Suva: School of Social and Economic Development, USP
Lawson Stephanie, 1990, The Myth of Cultural Homogeneity and Its Implications for Chiefly Power and Politics in Fiji, Cambridge: Comparative Studies in Society and History: vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 795–821
Lawson Stephanie, 1991, The Failure of Democratic Politics in Fiji, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Leckie Jacqueline, 2002, Return to Nukulau. The Troubled Waters of Ethno-nationalism in Fiji. [in:] Kolig E., Mückler H., (eds.), Politics of Indigeneity in the South Pacific. Recent Problems of Identity in Oceania. Munich, Hamburg, Londyn: LIT
Macnaught Timothy, 1982, The Fijian Colonial Experience: A Study of Neotraditional Order under British Colonial Rule Prior to World War II. Pacific Research Monographic Series no. 7, Canberra: Australian National University Press
Norton Robert, 2002, Accommodating Indigenous Privilege: Britain’s Dilemma in Decolonising Fiji, Journal of Pacific History Vol. 372
Radio New Zealand International, 5th August, 2004, “Indian Tycoon Real PM of Fiji, Claims FLPG.”
Ratuva Steven, 2000, Addressing Inequality? Economic Affirmative Action and Communal Capitalism in Post-coup Fiji. [in:] A Haroon Akram-Lodhi (ed.), Confronting Fiji Futures, Canberra: Asia Pacific Press, Australian National University
Ratuva Steven, 1999, Ethnic Politics, Communalism and Affirmative Action in Fiji: A Critical and Comparative Study, Thesis PhD, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex
Ravuvu Asasela, 1995, The Facade of Democracy. Fijian Struggles for Political Control 1830–1987, Suva: Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific
Reeves Paul, Vakatora Tomasi, Lal Brij V., 1996, The Fiji Islands: Towards a United Future: Report of the Fiji Constitution Review Commission 1996, Parliament of Fiji, Parliamentary Paper no. 34 of 1996, Suva: Government Printer
Riles Annelise, 1997, Part-Europeans and Fijians, [in:] Lal B.V., Vakatora T.R. Fiji in Transition, Research Paper of the Fiji Constitution Review Commission Volume 1, Suva: School of Social and Economic Development, USP
Robertson Robert T., 2000, Retreat from Exclusion: Identities in Post-coup Fiji, [in:] A. Haroon Akram-Loghi (ed.), Confronting Fiji Futures, Canberra: Asia Pacific Press, Australian National University
Routledge David, 1985, Matanitu: The Struggle for Power in Early Fiji, Suva: University of the South Pacific Press
Sharma Vidya S., 2010, “Bringing Fiji Back From The Cold” Pacific Media Watch 30 August 2010
Trnka Susanna (ed.), 2002, Ethnographies of the May 2000 Fiji Coup, La’ie, Hawai’i: A Pacific Studies Special Issue Vol. 25, No. 4 December 2002
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), 1997, Fiji Poverty Report, Suva: UNDP
Valentine Charles A., 1970, Social Status, Political Power, and Native Responses to European Influences in Oceania [in:] T.G. Harding, B.J. Wallace eds., Cultures of the Pacific, New York: The Free Press
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2011-01-01
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Kaczmarek, Łukasz. (2011). Ethnicity and Politics in Fiji. Ethnologia Polona, 115–137. Retrieved from https://journals.iaepan.pl/ethp/article/view/630
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