The Defining years: Pacific Islands, 1945-65

Abstract

This book brings together nine papers from a workshop held at The Australian National University in 2003 that fill a gap in Pacific historiography -- the period from the end of World War II to the advent of decolonization in the 1960s. While the post-war years might not have been as dramatic or colourful as some other periods in Pacific Islands history, they were important in laying the foundation for later developments in the region. These papers cover a wide range of topics, including the practical difficulties of kiap administration in Papua New Guinea, mental health in Fiji, New Zealand-Samoan relations in the 1940s, and the beginnings of elected government in Palau. They offer an alternate view of Pacific Island history in a time of silent but nonetheless significant developments. Show more