Choppy waters: the ‘return’ of Fiji to pacific affairs after the 2014 vote

Abstract

Although Fiji held a successful election in September 2014, the country still faces problems related to the completion of its democratic transition following its emergence from a difficult period of regional and international isolation. Fiji continues to find itself pushing against the political order in the South Pacific, while maintaining a balance between established powers like Australia and New Zealand, and new partners including China. The case of Fiji as a small state which, by virtue of its perceived ‘centrality’ in the region, can shape diplomacy and regime development on a larger scale, is examined.

KEYWORDS:

• Fiji
• coup
• democratization
• South Pacific
• China
• United States
• Australia
• New Zealand

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Lynn Gardinier for her comments and recommendations on earlier drafts of this paper, and to Victoria University of Wellington for their support during the initial fieldwork for this study.

Notes

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