Pacific Island Independence: Can Island Nations Avoid Dependence?
Sione Tupouniua
Volume 1, Number 1 (1985) 1 (1): 41-51
Keywords Economic Dependence, Political Sovereignty, Neo-colonialism, Self-relience, Structural Adjustement, Pacific Islands, Military Alliances, Manpower Localization, Foreign Experts, Export-Driven Economies, Strategies for Economic Independence in Small Island Nations, Challenges of Post-Colonial Education Systems in the Pacific
Abstract
This article analyzes Pacific Island nations' struggle to achieve meaningful independence beyond political sovereignty. It argues that military alliances with major powers (USA, France, Australia), economic reliance on foreign institutions, and intellectual dependence through Western education perpetuate neo-colonial control. Key findings reveal fragmented economies dominated by external demand, limited inter-sectoral linkages, and foreign-designed institutions. The author proposes eight strategies for autonomy, including national self-reliance, manpower localization, rural development, and public sector-led industrialization. Crucially, capitalist frameworks are deemed insufficient; socialist alternatives may better support true economic independence. Pacific Islanders must reject imitation, leverage cultural heritage, and assert unique development paths to overcome systemic dependencies.
Sione Tupouniua
Published September 1, 1985
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sione Tupouniua (Author)
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The Fourth World Journal (FWJ) is an open-access, peer-reviewed international journal published by the Center for World Indigenous Studies, USA. FWJ is a platform for international scholars and activists, and political and cultural leaders.
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