INTR2010 Study Guide - Final Guide: Melanesian Spearhead Group, Pacific Islands Forum, Regional Power
18 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
(WK 11)
THE SOUTH PACIFIC: ASIA’S FORGOTTEN PLACE OR POWER
VACUUM?
SOUTH PACIFIC: ASIA’S FORGOTTEN PLACE OR POWER VACUUM?
Brief history of the South pacific
Early migration through Asia in waves, including Melanesian, Micronesian and
Polynesian cultures
European contact Explorers, traders and missionaries
(De)Colonization gradually after WWII, but independence only for some
South Pacific in IRAP
Regional diversity
-Differences between sub-regions
-But focus on development issues
Geopolitical significance remote, sparsely populated less economic and
political weight
Great powers subject to great power competition, from colonial times to today
South Pacific Regionalism
Complex patchwork
-Overlapping, shifting groupings
-Colonial vs. independent tensions
-Non-interference vs. intervention
-Competing institutions
Key bodies
-Pacific Islands Forum (2000)
-Rival PIDF emerges (2013)
-Melanesian Spearhead Group
Regional Powers: Papua New Guinea
Overview:
-Former British/Germany colony, pop: 7.5M; GDP: US$16.1B agriculture and
resources
-Independence (1975), political instability, corruption and violence
Strategic outlook declining reliance on Australia, becoming minor donor and has
a “Look North” to Asia policy
Regional Powers: Fiji
Overview:
-Former British colony, pop: 881,000, GDP: US$4.2B tourism, resources,
fisheries
-Independence (1970), coups, ethnics tension democracy (2014)
Strategic outlook:
-Leadership role in region (esp. post-2006), donor nation
-“Rethink Oceania” and “Look North”
External powers
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Traditional powers
-Australia and New Zealand as central strategic players
-US and France with ongoing territorial presence
Emerging powers:
-China growing strategic partner infrastructure, loans, etc.
-Japan established longer
-Russia returning?
Climate change
Climate-linked challenges:
-Rising sea levels
-Seawater intrusion
-Increasing rate of major storms
-Potential climate refugee disaster
Responses:
-Mitigation and adaption: minimal contribution and limited state capacity
-What role for Australia?
Economic and social development
Economic overview fishing, minerals, agriculture and forestry, tourism
Economic challenges populations, distances, impact of aid policy and lack of
infrastructure
Social challenges education and employment, policing, violence against women
and ethnic unrest
The place of Australia
Australia’s role
-Former colonial power
-Regional power but constrained
-Peacekeeping and foreign aid
Australia’s outlook
-Troubler diplomacy
-ODA destination
-“Arc of instability”
-Strategic space or threat?
Prospects
Environment, development and social issues
-Economic growth but integration and infrastructure challenges
-Environment = existential issue
-Ethnic tensions, welfare and employment problems
Regional diplomacy more great power attention but also tensions
FUTURE GAZING: FROM ASIA-PACIFIC TO INDO-PACIFIC?
FUTURE GAZING: FROM ASIA-PACIFIC TO INDO-PACIFIC?
The “idea” of the Asia-Pacific
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The south pacific: asia"s forgotten place or power. Early migration through asia in waves, including melanesian, micronesian and. European contact explorers, traders and missionaries (de)colonization gradually after wwii, but independence only for some. Geopolitical significance remote, sparsely populated less economic and political weight. Great powers subject to great power competition, from colonial times to today. Former british/germany colony, pop: 7. 5m; gdp: us. 1b agriculture and resources. Strategic outlook declining reliance on australia, becoming minor donor and has a look north to asia policy. Former british colony, pop: 881,000, gdp: us. 2b tourism, resources, fisheries. Independence (1970), coups, ethnics tension democracy (2014) Leadership role in region (esp. post-2006), donor nation. Australia and new zealand as central strategic players. Us and france with ongoing territorial presence. China growing strategic partner infrastructure, loans, etc. Mitigation and adaption: minimal contribution and limited state capacity. Economic overview fishing, minerals, agriculture and forestry, tourism. Economic challenges populations, distances, impact of aid policy and lack of infrastructure.
