Micronesia at the crossroads : a reappraisal of the Micronesian political dilemma

dc.contributor.authorHeine, Carlen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-18T05:31:00Z
dc.date.available2017-04-18T05:31:00Z
dc.date.copyright1974en_AU
dc.date.issued1974en_AU
dc.date.updated2017-04-18T05:31:00Z
dc.description.abstractCovering an area of the Pacific Ocean larger than the continental United States, the more than 2,000 islands and atolls of Micronesia - a United Nations strategic trust territory under U.S. trusteeship - are emerging as a political entity. Their history since the Spanish discovery in the seventeenth century is a parade of colonial rule - Spanish, German, Japanese, and now American. Today, the many islands and their diverse peoples are confronting the awesome task of determining their political future. Hampered by differences in culture and language, and by attitudes fostered under years of paternalism, the islanders must begin to develop an identity as Micronesians. As most commentary on Micronesia has been written by outsiders, this book is most welcome - an evaluation and viewpoint of a Micronesian who has been a student of Micronesian history and a close observer of the territory{u2019}s political development. In Carl Heine{u2019}s view, Micronesia is standing at the crossroads between political decolonization and autonomy or further dependence on a "neglectful" trustee, the United States. The question becomes, which road to nationalism should be taken? Here the author attempts to provide a basis for further discussion of Micronesia{u2019}s future, and offers alternative solutions: complete independence from the United States; a return to traditional ways of life; the formation of a Free Associated State of Micronesia aligned with the United States. As he comments, there are those in Micronesia who prefer Coca-Cola to coconuts, and others who prefer coconuts to Coca-Cola. Whatever the final resolution, both of these preferences must be respected and accommodated. The problems facing Micronesia are immense and pressing. Here in straightforward language is the view of the dilemma by one man - a man completely immersed in the struggle to realize the rights of 100,000 people to a better life.en_AU
dc.format.extent210 pagesen_AU
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.otherb1424801en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/114671en_AU
dc.language.isoen_AUen_AU
dc.provenanceThis republication is part of the digitisation project being carried out by Scholarly Information Services/Library and ANU Press under the provisions of Section 200AB of the Copyright Act, 1968 - http://www6.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca1968133/s200ab.htmlen_AU
dc.publisherAustralian National University Pressen_AU
dc.rightsAuthor/s retain copyrighten_AU
dc.subject.lcshMicronesia Politics and governmenten_AU
dc.titleMicronesia at the crossroads : a reappraisal of the Micronesian political dilemmaen_AU
dc.typeBooken_AU
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Accessen_AU
local.bibliographicCitation.placeofpublicationCanberra, ACT, Australiaen_AU
local.contributor.authoremailanupress@anu.edu.auen_AU
local.publisher.urlhttp://press.anu.edu.au/en_AU
local.type.statusPublished Versionen_AU

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