THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC LIBRARY Author Statement of Accessibility Name of Candidate Esther W. Batiri WILLIAMS Ph.D Degree Department/School Institutiton/University Department of Government University of Queen Thesis Title The Politics of Information : Information, Communication and Democracy in Fiji Date of completion of requirements for award t. This thesis may be consulted in the library without the author's permission (y es/No 2. This thesis may be cited without the authors's permission providing it is suitably acknowledged 3. This thesis may be photocopied in whole without the author's written permission 4. This thesis may be photocopied in proportion without the author's written permission Part that may be copied : Under 10% V 40-60% 10-20% 60-80% 2040% Over80% 5. I authorise die University to produce a microfilm or microfiche copy for retention and use in the Library according to rules 1-4 above (for security and preservation purposes mainly) Yes/No 6. After a period of 5 years from the date of publication,the USP Library may issue the thesis in whole or in pan, in photostat or microfilm or other copying medium, without first seeking the author's written permission. Signed Date 29 June 1998 Contact Address Esther W.B. Williams P 0 Box 1162 Suva, FIJI Permanent Address As above THE POLITICS OF INFORMATION: INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND DEMOCRACY IN FIJI ESTHER WININAMAORI BATIRI WILLIAMS Department of Government The University of Queensland A Thesis Submitted in Requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy January 1998 DECLARATION I declare that the work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original and my own work, except as acknowledged in the text. The material has not been submitted, either in who]e or in part, for a degree at this or any other institution. Esther W. L. Batiri Williams Date: 10/01/98 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this thesis would not have been possible without the assistance of many people. First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisors, Dr. Ulf Sundhaussen and Dr. Ian Ward, for their guidance, encouragement, patience and thought provoking discussions on a challenging study. I am especially indebted to them for being generous with their time and for contributing useful comments and ideas to successive drafts. I am also grateful to Dr. Paul Boreham, Head of Department, Department of Government of the University of Queensland for his continued support. Several people in the Department provided technical and administrative assistance and to them I am very grateful. I would also like to thank the many people I interviewed in Fiji. Their patience and willingness to have frank discussions with me was a real pleasure. In particular, I would like to thank the following people who provided me with so much information, and assisted me in one way or another in the production of this thesis: Sir Len Usher, Professor Tupeni Baba, Professor Asesela Ravuvu, Dr. Mary Low O'Sullivan, Dr. Isimeli Cokanasiga, Mel Rainey, Josaia Bainivanua Mar, Reverend Kamikamica, Epeli Cama, Ganeshan Rao, Robert Keith-Reid, Pulotu Cokanasiga, the late Joape Rabukawaqa, Andrew Horn, Vimal Sharma and friend and colleague, Geraldine Triffitt. My deep gratitude goes to the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada for granting me a study award, and to the University of the South Pacific for its support. But most of all, I warmly thank the people of Levukana for everything. We shared stories, myths and legends, songs, discussions, and traditional knowledge. My meetings with the women provided me with so much valuable information that went beyond the topic studied. Together we explored many of the complexities of the research subject, and agreed that there was much to learn and document so as to pass on the knowledge to future generations. A special word of appreciation goes to the staff of the University of the South Pacific Library who assisted me in many ways. Warm thanks must go to Pushpa, Arun, Sabita, Raj, Ana, and Raja. Margaret Patel of the Fiji National Archives was also very patient and helpful with my many requests. The final aspects of this thesis have been pleasant. I would particularly like to thank my examiners for their helpful comments and editorial suggestions. And my warm thanks to Mel Rainey for proofreading the thesis. Finally, I would like to thank Keith for his moral support and patience. And to Manu and Bubs for their encouragement and tolerance. It is to them that I dedicate this thesis. Vinaka vakalevu vei kemunii kece ABSTRACT The aim of this thesis is to examine the impact of information on democracy. Its primary purpose is to test the hypothesis that access to information is a political necessity for democracy, and that the introduction of measures to ensure information access are constrained by cultural, social, political, technical and economic factors. The impact of information and communication on political transformation is explored at the global and national levels. The global analysis was undertaken by first, establishing an overview of the information and communication situation, and second, by making a comparative assessment of the intra-societal penetration of information and communication systems. The national or micro-level analysis comprised a detailed case study of the relationship between information, communication and democracy in one country, Fiji. Research was conducted using the triangulation method incorporating in-depth interviews, participant observation, discussions in groups and library and archives research, I developed two questionnaires and an interview schedule to explore the different perceptions and attitudes held by the Fijians about information, communication and how these affected their role in politics. Three groups of interviews were conducted. A total of 640 people were interviewed in selected urban areas. Another 100 academics and professionals inthe urban areas were interviewed. The research in the village was based on group discussions. The findings of this study suggest that there is a correlation between information, communication and democracy. However, the degree of this correlation is influenced and controlled by cultural, political, technical, social and economic factors, For countries that are democratic, information access is high. For countries with insecure governments and authoritarian philosophies, the trend is to control information access and content. As far as the Fijians are concerned, the lack of information is not the problem, but rather, the difficulty is inherent in the way people perceive information, communication and democracy and their role in this; the impact of culture and politics in controlling the flow of information; the general negative attitudes on information held by leaders; and the lack of an organised information system in Fiji. In reality, many Fijians are not aware that information and communication are important development "tools" which can facilitate as well as control the transition to democracy. This thesis argues that the co-existence of the modern information/ommunication systems and the old, redefined and reinterpreted, could be effective in building a more informed and politically aware Fijian society. CONTENTS Page Acknowledgements i Abstract iii Contents iv Appendices vii List of Tables viii List of Figures x List of Maps x Abbreviations xi Glossary xii Quotations xiii Preface xiv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1-27 The Research Issues 8 The Hypothesis 18 Fiji as a Case Study 19 The Research Appro ach 21 The Purpose of the Thesis 23 Structure of the Thesis 25 CHAPTER 2: INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND DEMOCRACY: THE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 28-86 The Concept of Information 29 Access to Information 33 Information and Cultural Research 38 The Meaning of Communication and Liformation Flow 40 Linking Information, Communication and Development 45 Systems and Systems that Inform 45 Traditional and Modern Ways of Knowing 48 The Dominant Paradigm 51 The Alternative or Emerging Paradigms 57 The Emergence of Democracy 62 Existing Theories on Information and Democracy 68 Information For and Against Democracy 74 Information, Communication and Change 79 Conclusion 83 iv CHAPTER 3: INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND DEMOCRACY AT THE GLOBAL LEVEL: THE COMPARATIVE FRAMEWORK 87-121 Methodology: Global Level 87 The Distribution of Information and Communication Globally 89 Newspapers 90 Radio 92 Television 93 Information, Communication and the Origins of Democracy 98 Information, Communication and the Transition Phase 99 Information, Communication and the Consolidation Phase 100 A Comparative Assessment of Intra-Societal Penetration of Information/Communication Systems 102 The Information Access Index for Selected Pacific Islands and their Political Status 106 Information Access and Authority 113 Combining the Traditional and Modern Communication Systems 116 The Case Study 119 Conclusion 120 CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY: FIJI: THE CASE STUDY 122-141 Procedures for In-depth Interviews 124 Data Collected: An Explanation 129 Data on the Fijians 131 Demographics of People Interviewed 132 Participant Observation in the Village 136 Method: Village Level 136 Library, Archives and other Research 139 CHAPTER 5: INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND DEMOCRACY: THE SOCIO-POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT 142-196 Ethnic Composition of Fiji 143 The Economy 146 Education and Literacy 148 Adult Literacy 150 Urbanisation 151 Politics of the Land 152 Telecommunications 154 Colonisation and Indirect Rule 155 Information