Practising politics in the Pacific islands : insider perspectives

Abstract

Politicians are influential yet contentious figures whose daily activities are the subject of considerable speculation and intrigue, and whose motivations are often denigrated as morally questionable, if not reprehensible. While conjecture about the value of politicians has an easy resonance with democratic politics everywhere, it has particular significance in the Pacific Islands where the influence of institutional transfer and the precepts of development tend to cast political practice, and by extension the politicians who undertake the job, as having been corrupted or diverted from their ideal purpose. Largely missing from these accounts are the views and reflections of politicians themselves, their stories and experiences. In this thesis I seek to understand political life in the Pacific Islands from a politician-centred perspective. Through an examination of recorded life histories and other publically available sources, in-depth interviews and observation, I draw together a collective portrait that describes how politicians enter politics, how they see their work, including their triumphs and disappointments, and explores why they seek election, and why they ultimately leave. What emerges from this portrait is a picture of a group of people undertaking a job that is both functional and intrinsically meaningful. I argue that popular negativity directed at politicians in the Pacific Islands stems from the distinctive nature of post-independence which generates unfavourable comparisons between contemporary politicians and a valorised first generation of political leaders; and pejorative comparisons between the practice of politics in the Pacific and ideal leadership models, including 'professionalised' politicians and more recently 'mobilising' or 'developmental' leaders. More generally, I argue that attempts to define the value of politicians in political theory tend to focus heavily on the figure of the politician, rather than the people themselves, and by extension dehumanise political practice and devalue the importance of endeavour to the purpose and function of politics and its associated institutions. Building on the findings of similar politician-centred studies from elsewhere, I conclude that revaluing endeavour, defined by the willingness of politicians to be involved, deepens our understanding of political life and allows us to reclaim respect for the people who occupy public office. - provided by Candidate. Show more