In the contemporary world, tensions have risen between the nuclear powers and developing nuclear nations, which reminds the intention of superpowers to maintain their dominance over the world.
In the Pacific context, Stephanie Lawson’ article, Post Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism and the Pacific Way: A Critique of (Un)Critical approaches, explained the term “Pacific way” used in 1970 to mean the smooth transition of decolonisation of Pacific Islands and later denote the collective political identity of island states in the post-colonial period, and together with the “Melanesian way”, developed the characteristics of an anti-colonial discourse.
This article explains the context of neo-colonialism that has a strong implication in the history of the world and especially Pacific Islands.
What is neo-colonialism?
What is neo-colonialism or neo-imperialism? Historians have explained that after World War II, the former colonial powers continued to apply existing and past international economic arrangements with their former colony countries in order to maintain their control.
This is a “method of using capitalism, business globalisation and cultural imperialism to influence a country, in lieu of either direct military control (imperialism) or indirect political control (hegemony)”.
In simple terms, Lawson explains that neo-colonialism “refers generally to a situation in which relatively more powerful countries tend to exercise economic, cultural and/or political power over weaker or smaller countries. The latter may have formal independent status but sovereignty is seen as heavily compromised by continuing relations of dependence on either the former colonial powers, or on other powers with interests in them or both”.
Altbach and Kelly believe neo-colonialism is the “highest stage of colonialism” where underdeveloped or developing nations are voluntary and perhaps, through necessity, are dependent on developed nations. The impact of neo-colonialism has been felt by Pacific countries since World War II.
Several problems have existed in the Pacific Islands in the neo-colonialised era in relation to economic, political, health, gender discrimination, unemployment, disparities between the rich and poor, education and so much more.
The sectors in Pacific Islands which were most affected by foreign intervention include the banking industry, construction business, tourism sector, educational curriculums, non-Pacific countries business investment in construction, housing and infrastructure sectors.
This had resulted in direct pressure of the advanced countries to dictate their term and pressurise developing Pacific nations.
History of neo-colonialism
History reveals that neo-colonialism in Pacific Islands is not a new phenomenon as it was present in colonial times in regard to ancient island political systems, which were appropriated to accommodate colonial systems, modes of economic production were transformed, numerous social values were changed by the coming of colonial powers, and despite eradicating the colonial yoke, the decolonised Pacific had faced social and economic woes.
There has been a conflict between the traditional values imposed by the West on the Pacific in relation to political instability, economic development, regionalism and protecting indigenous islanders.
For instance in politics, the imposition of Congressional, Westminster systems in in Pacific Islands and sometimes coexistence with traditional indigenous mode of governances.
Moreover, the post-colonial government usually combined elements of the traditional Pacific government with the imposed system to form a syncretic form of government.
In economic respect, the islander’s economy faced shortage of funds after independence, so they began to use their asset of natural beauty by developing tourism.
But in order to improve the tourism industry, they required huge foreign investment so they had to depend on foreign investment, which left the host nation in vulnerable position.
This foreign investment made many island nations’ governments to develop policies in order to protect the foreign investment. Therefore, slowly many of the island nations lacked favourable balance of trade.
This further made them more dependent on foreign assistance, beginning with bilateral aid where government would hand over the money from one government to another, and later changed to multilateral aid program where the donor governments gave funds and goods to small-scale regional based organisations in the belief that it would be a more effective and direct form of assistance.
Regionalism verses neo-colonialism
In order to counter the problem of neo-colonialism, a concept of regionalism developed in Pacific Islands implying regional co-operation and mutual dependency.
I.C Campbell stated regionalism became a “hope to lessen the dependence on the old colonial powers and mutual dependence had the attraction of resembling traditional social arrangement and making rational sense”.
In this regard, there was the formation of the South Pacific Commission in 1947 that was set up to offer advice, co-ordinate developed projects and conduct research in various aspects of administration and development.
Later co-operation among the islanders led to the formulation of the South Pacific Forum in 1971.
This was a significant move to co-operate among the islanders on matters of common concern. The South Pacific Forum also established the South Pacific Bureau of Economic Co-operation (1972).
This forum gained strength in the course to independence of many Pacific Islands. Campbell stated the forum worked to “reduce the distance between islands and established a shipping line to reduce dependence on extra-regional enterprise”.
The forum also established a South Pacific Trade Commission to represent the island groups collectively in promoting exports.
The forum tried to curb the varied Pacific problems and also raise a common voice in diplomatic issues. Similarly, a regional co-operation was developed by the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty in 1985.
Countering neo-colonialism
In order to counter the new form of colonialism or neo-colonialism, scholars believed “islanders will have to make a fine balance between the state sovereignty, regional co-operation and influential external states”.
Other possible ways could be to develop regional infrastructure, economic assets and own specific industries to generate more revenue to become not just self-sufficient but develop their own island nations.
Thus, Pacific Islanders have to strike a balance between sovereignty and regional co-operation to develop their own nation.
* Dr Sakul Kundra is an assistant professor in history at FNU’s Lautoka campus. Views expressed are his own and not of this newspaper or his employer.
