New Caledonia of Kanaky: The political history of a French colony
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Date
1987
Authors
Connell, John
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Canberra, ACT : Development Studies Centre, Research School of Pacfic Studies, The Australian National University.
Abstract
Since its discovery by Cook more than two hundred years ago,
New Caledonia's history has been influenced by colonialism ,
potential economic affluence, civil unrest and violence. Early
mission rivalries between the English and French were resolved by
French annexation in 1853. The following ninety years saw the
emergence of New Caledonia as a settler colony . A profitable
mining industry developed and the economy became dominated by
local and French multinational business interests, with the
extensive repatriation of earnings and profits. The Melanesian
population declined under a regime that saw Kanaks as no more than
a racially inferior labour force. Legislation restricted
Melanesians geographically and withdrew or withheld civil
liberties and Asians were introduced as a more 'reliable'
workforce. By the 1920s the decline in the Melanesian population
ended and, following the Second World War, the harsh social and
economic restrictions on Melanesians were abolished.
Nevertheless, New Caledonia increasingly became a dichotomized
society. The territory today is sharply divided politically,
culturally and economically between the Kanaks ( Melanesians ), the
European (mostly French), the Polynesian and Asian populations.
Affluent Europeans dominate Noumea while poor Melanesians dominate
rural areas. Population growth emphasized the necessity for more
land for Melanesians but demands for land reform were met only
belatedly. The inevitable involvement of Melanesians in politics,
initially in support of Europeans, led to an extraordinary
succession of both left and right wing parties that were formed
to contest Territorial and French elections. During the nickel
boom of the early 1970s there was extensive migration of Europeans
to New Caledonia, ensuring that Melanesians remained a minority.
The first Melanesian political parties followed, primarily to
secure land reform, but, in the face of conservative opposition,
these became more radical and eventually sought independence .
Conservative political parties took more extreme positions in
response and there was no progress towards independence.
Militancy amongst the Melanesians has resulted. New Caledonia
remains a colony and a fragmented society in an ocean of
considerable strategic importance to France. Despite the strength
of nationalist claims independence remains unlikely
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Open Access