Pacific Islands' statecraft: where relationships are more important than might and money

Abstract

This chapter focusses on how PICs practice statecraft. It argues that, in the Pacific Islands region, influence is not necessarily based on financial or security resources. Instead, quality relationships are the enduring currency of influence. As Pacific societies are communally structured, their tools of statecraft are drawn from this collaborative existence – often bringing together states and using forms of cultural diplomacy to achieve outcomes. This chapter examines how, as a group, PICs leverage these mechanisms to their advantage within an increasingly contentious geopolitical environment. PICs are particularly effective at using diplomatic tools of statecraft to influence partner states, and one another.