A history of political and economic relations between Europe and former Pacific Island colonies
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2014
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This thesis is a study of the political economy of the relations between Europe and the Pacific Island former colonies. The relations have been formalised through legally binding trade and aid agreements starting in 1975 and continuing into the current era. The main aim of this thesis is to examine changes in the relations over time and to explore how these relations have developed from a colonial situation through to the decade post-independence. Second aim is to examine the national interests of both the European and the Pacific Island countries in shaping their relations. Third is to examine the impact of these relations on the economic and political development trajectories of the Pacific Island countries. This thesis finds that changes to the relations have been largely influenced by events in the wider global political economy. The agreements instituted between the regions were, to a significant extent, devised by the European parties to pursue their political and economic interests in the former colonies since the period of decolonisation. In responding to global events since then, the European countries have redefined the content of the relations but continued to safeguard their own interests. Due to Europe’s power in the international political economy the Pacific Island countries have acted within the framework provided by the Europeans in pursuing their national interests to facilitate development. Nonetheless, the Pacific Island countries have influenced the content of the agreements to maximise their benefits when they see them as contributing to their own economic development, and refused to commit to agreements when they see them as not in their own development interest. The trade and aid provisions in the relations over the years have impacted the economic development trajectories of the Pacific Island countries through encouraging exports of certain primary commodities that the Europeans have required for the benefit of their industrial sectors. This approach did not encourage diversification or industrialisation of Pacific Island economies, but resulted in development of particular sectors, such as sugar production and tuna processing. In the last decade, Europeans have been pushing for a free trade agreement, which the Pacific Island countries have resisted, arguing that liberalisation will adversely affects their small developing economies. Finally, drawing on a case study of Fiji, this study reveals how the relations have not had a discernible impact on the political development trajectories of the Pacific Island countries. In sum, the Pacific Island countries’ relations with Europe, have not brought the significant changes to their position in the global economy as was intended when the two parties initially committed.
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