Pacific Islands Political Studies Association 11th Conference Fale Pasifika, University of Auckland, December 3-4, 2009 Conference theme: Pacific Democracy: What’s Happening? Day 1 (December 3) 8-8.30 Registration 8.30-8.45 Traditional Maori and Pacific Island welcome 8.45-8.55 Welcome and introduction, Steven Ratuva, President PIPSA 8.55-9.30 Opening and keynote address, Sir Paul Reeves, The crisis of democracy in the Pacific: The case of Fiji 9.30-10.00 Morning tea 10.00-11.30 Plenary: Coups and the crisis of democracy in Fiji Facilitator: • Shubhash Appanna (Auckland Institute of Studies), From democratic dictatorship to democracy in Fiji. • Susanna Trnka (The University of Auckland), From the ground up: Ethnographic analysis of ethnic identity, violence, and the state in Fiji. • Rev Akuila Yabaki (Fiji Citizens Constitutional Forum), From paramountcy to equality: Constitutionalism, dialogue and ethno-political conflict in Fiji 11.30-1.00 Plenary: Democracy in Samoa 1 Facilitator: • Desmond Amosa (University of the South Pacific), Political stability in Samoa: A devil in disguise? • Falaniko Tominiko (University of Auckland), Temokalasima le fa’amatai: A true democracy or dictatorship in disguise? • Afamasaga Toleafoa (Consultant, Samoa), The making of the one party state, Samoa’s example • (Paper only: Tamara Tulitua (University of Auckland), Talatala le upega: Disentangling the net-Samoan culture, identity and politics) 1.00-2.00 Lunch 2.00-3.00 Plenary: Pacific Parliaments Facilitator: • Quinton Clements (Centre for Democratic Institutions, Australian National University) and Bob Nakamura (New York State University), Pacific Parliaments: Framework for Research & Development Comment: o Afamasaga Toleafoa (Consultant, Samoa), Executives and Parliaments • David Hegarty (SSGM, ANU), Parliaments and Crises 3.00-3.30 Afternoon tea 3.30-4.30 Plenary: Democratic reforms in Tonga Facilitator: • Tevita Havea (University of Auckland), The Constitution of the Kingdom of Tonga v. Democracy • Ian Campbell (University of the South Pacific), Pacific democracy: What’s happening in Tonga? • Malakai Koloamatagi (University of Canterbury), Constitutional reform and democratization in Tonga • David Lumsden (Atenisi University), Cultural change and democracy: what do young Tongans think? 4.30-6.00 Plenary: Democracy in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Facilitator: • Bill Standish (ANU) PNG: Reforming sub-regional democracy. Or not? • Gordon Nanau (Solomon Islands College of Higher Education), Understanding vulnerability, insecurity and instability in the Solomon Islands • Jackson Gege (Solomon Islands College of Higher Education), The impact of public service management practices on democracy in the Solomon Islands. • Joe Kanekane (PNG Law and Justice Sector) Informing and educating the masses under a stable government, an analysis of how the media in Papua New Guinea is performing its role, under the National Alliance led government from 2002- to the present. • David Hegarty (ANU), Local level governance – absent the state 6.30-9.00 Pasifika feast ($40 per ticket) 2 Day 2 (Friday 4) 8.30-10.30 Plenary: Pacific women and politics Facilitator: • Yvonne Underhill-Sem (University of Auckland), Sexual and gender-based violence as a regional politic issue: taking us back to move us forward? • Christine Forster (University of Queensland); Sexual offences, law reform in Pacific Islands: Replacing colonial norms with international good practice standards • Asenati Liki Chan Tung (SSGM, ANU), Women and Leadership in Pacific Public Sectors - Samoa and Solomon Islands • Lawrence Kalinoe (University of Papua New Guinea), PNG - Nominated women MPs and reserved seats for women? • Alumita Durutalo (University of the South Pacific), The principle of political equality in Pacific electoral systems: case study of women’s participation in Fiji’s elections since 1972 10.30-11 Morning tea 11-12 Plenary: Pasifika politics in NZ Facilitator: • Keynote: Phil Goff (NZ Leader of the Opposition), Pasifika New Zealanders in the new political scene • Carmel Sepuloni (Parliamentarian), Voting patterns of Pacific Islanders in New Zealand elections • Peni Fa’alogo (University of Auckland), So you are sorry: what does that mean? Can the apology reshape the collective membership of Samoan New Zealanders? 12-1 Plenary: Politics in the French Pacific Facilitator: • Mathias Chauchat (University of New Caledonia), Seeking a collegial politics in New Caledonia today • Sémir Al Wardi (University of French Polynesia), Tahitian democracy: a specific political culture • Christophe Chabrot (University of New Caledonia), Citizen involvement in the independence or autonomy process in New Caledonia 1.00-2.00 Lunch Parallel session A (Room 104) Parallel session B (Room 107) Parallel session C (Room 108) 2.00-300 Democracy, civil society and the media Traditional governance, identity and Human Rights and corruption Facilitator: youth Facilitator: Facilitator: • Rebecca Emery (Amnesty • Crosbie Walsh (University of the • Tarisi Vunidilo (Archaeologist), Na International, NZ), AI human South Pacific), Political Blogs on bula vakavanua: Case study of rights abuse assessment Fiji: Cybernet Democracy or What? change in contemporary village method • Mark Hayes (Queensland governance in Fiji: An indigenous • Apolosi Bose (Amnesty 3 University of Technology), What to view International, London), Human do when statements fail: • Patrick Vakaoti (University of rights abuse in Fiji Responding to assaults on media Otago) and Vanisha Mishra • Peter Larmour (ANU), Anti- freedom in Fiji and PNG (University of the South Pacific), An corruption and anti-politics in exploration of youth leadership role the Pacific Islands • Jan Beange (Barrister and in Fiji Solicitor), Promoting civil • Birtha Richmond-Tongahai (Niue society voice in the Pacific-Does Government), Findings of Niue’s NZ charity law impose inaugural Youth Assembly project regulatory barriers to [private] aid? 3.00-3.30 Afternoon tea Parallel session A (Room 104) Parallel session B (Room 107) Parallel session C (Room 108) 3.30-5.30 Democracy and development toleaCustom, identity and democracy Intervention and development Facilitator: Facilitator: Facilitator: • Trisia Farrelly (Massey University), • Tui Rakuita (ANU), Disentangling • Duncan Wilson (Senior Democracy and development: An language games: Problems Regional journalist), Models indigenous Fijian example associated with democratic practice of democracy and society in • Haruo Nakagawa (University of the in Oceania economic development: The South Pacific), Democracy, • Hūfanga Dr ’Okusitino Māhina Solomon Islands and the governance and growth (Vava’u Academy for Critical Inquiry “Washington consensus” • Scott Hook (University of & Applied Research), Culture and • Siobhan McDonnell (ANU), Queensland), Indigenous capacity Identity: A Tā-Vā, Time-Space, State failure and the politics development and local Theory of Democracy of intervention institutional structures-is there a • Volker Boege (University of • Yolinda Chan (University of role for the World Bank (and other Queensland), Democracy and Auckland), PACER-Plus: The donors)? custom – incompatibilities or emergence of “forced • Hélène Goiran (New complementarities? Legitimacy consensus” approach to Caledonian independent issues in Pacific democracies regional economic governance scholar), The political roles of in the Pacific the Fiji military: a history of • Jonathan Schultz (University of the chiefs' warriors, heroes of Melbourne), Explaining the World Wars, peacekeepers Australian interventionism and dictators 4 5.30-6.00 Summing up plenary • Scott Kroeker (University of Hawaii), Submerged democracies: Future considerations for disappearing Pacific states • Summing up • Closing 6.30-10 Farewell Cocktail 5 .