Ethnic politics and inequality in Fiji: understanding the new Constitution - article ; n°1 ; vol.96, pg 63-75

Ralph Premdas, Jeffrey Steeves

Description

Journal de la Société des océanistes - Année 1993 - Volume 96 - Numéro 1 - Pages 63-75
Résumé.
Les régimes inégaux et répressifs sont devenus le type prédominant dans les sociétés plurielles du Tiers-Monde. Très peu d'arrangements sont apparus pour réconcilier les revendications divergentes des groupes ethniques dans un état et pour préserver en même temps un minimum de démocratie et de stabilité. L'inégalité et la domination ethniques sont devenues les nouvelles normes. Dans cet article, nous examinons le cas des Iles Fiji, en considérant les modes d'inégalité et de répression qui se sont manifestés dans la nouvelle constitution (1990) de ce petit état du Pacifique Sud.
Abstract.
Regimes of inequality and repression have become the predominant pattern in the plural societies of the Third World. Very few consociational arrangements for sharing power have emerged to reconcile the divergent claims of the ethnic elements in the state so as to preserve a modicum of democracy and stability simultaneously. Inequality and ethnic domination have become the new norms. In this article, we examine the Fiji case looking at the patterns of inequality and repression that have emerged in the new 1990 constitution of this mini South Pacific state.
13 pages
Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.

Informations

• Publié par: JOURNAL_DE_LA_SOCIETE_DES_OCEANISTES
• Publié le: 01 janvier 1993
• Nombre de lectures: 9
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Ralph R. Premdas
Jeffrey S. Steeves
Ethnic politics and inequality in Fiji: understanding the new
Constitution
In: Journal de la Société des océanistes. 96, 1993-1. pp. 63-75.
Résumé
Résumé.
Les régimes inégaux et répressifs sont devenus le type prédominant dans les sociétés plurielles du Tiers-Monde. Très peu
d'arrangements sont apparus pour réconcilier les revendications divergentes des groupes ethniques dans un état et pour
préserver en même temps un minimum de démocratie et de stabilité. L'inégalité et la domination sont devenues les
nouvelles normes. Dans cet article, nous examinons le cas des Iles Fiji, en considérant les modes d'inégalité et de répression qui
se sont manifestés dans la nouvelle constitution (1990) de ce petit état du Pacifique Sud.
Abstract
Abstract.
Regimes of inequality and repression have become the predominant pattern in the plural societies of the Third World. Very few
consociational arrangements for sharing power have emerged to reconcile the divergent claims of the ethnic elements in the state
so as to preserve a modicum of democracy and stability simultaneously. Inequality and ethnic domination have become the new
norms. In this article, we examine the Fiji case looking at the patterns of inequality and repression that have emerged in the new
1990 constitution of this mini South Pacific state.
Citer ce document / Cite this document :
Premdas Ralph R., Steeves Jeffrey S. Ethnic politics and inequality in Fiji: understanding the new Constitution. In: Journal de la
Société des océanistes. 96, 1993-1. pp. 63-75.
doi : 10.3406/jso.1993.2921
http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/jso_0300-953X_1993_num_96_1_2921Ethnie politics and inequality in Fiji :
understanding the new Constitution *
by Ralph R. PREMDAS ♦♦ and Jeffrey STEEVES ***
Although not inevitable, inequality and repres new order of inequality was laid at the very
sion appear to be endemic features of multi-ethnic founding of the multi-ethnic state so that the
plural societies, especially those in the independent contemporary situation represents a basic conti
states of the Third World. J. S. Furnivall, the father nuity with the past. We present the materials in
of the plural society model, argued that the internal three parts. First, we look at the colonial
cultural diversity of these societies, lacking a administration from the perspective of the early
common shared social will, required an " umpire " introduction of suffrage. We note in particular the
to maintain order and stability '. In colonial times, principle of communalism at work in the system of
this role of an umpire was performed by the representation that was used at that time. In the
colonial administration which had an interest in second part, we examine the inequalities which
maintaining the cleavages of a deeply divided state. were institutionalized in the independence consti
At independence, the multi-ethnic Third World tution of 1970. In the third part, we set forth the
states faced the formidable challenge of forging provisions of the post- 1987 coup constitution to
into existence unified entities for political stability show how the inequalities have been elaborated
and economic development. The new nationalist further. We must begin these three sections,
governing elites had inherited equalitarian however, by providing a brief survey of Fiji's
constitutions which entrenched protection for society.
minority rights. It was, however, not long there
after that the effort at welding the multi-ethnic
fabric failed and, on the contrary, the demands of Fin : The Making of a Plural Society.
ethnic segments became inflamed with each seeking
its own self-determination. Fiji sits at a strategic point in the South Pacific
Ethno-national challenges to the unity of the new between Hawaii and Australia encompassing some
states of the Third World have frequently been met 844 islands in the group. The two largest islands are
by repression which in turn has led to the Vanua Levu and Viti Levu which together comprise
overthrow of the independence constitutions and approximately 87 % of the total land area of
their safeguards for ethnic minorities. Regimes of 7,055 square miles. Viti Levu (4,010 square miles),
inequality and repression have become the pr the largest of the two islands, is nearly twice the
edominant pattern in the plural societies of the size of Vanua Levu (2,137 square miles) and
Third World. Very few consociational arrange dominates life in Fiji generally. It contains 75 % of
ments for sharing power have emerged to reconcile the total population and accounts for the most
the divergent claims of the ethnic elements in the productive facilities in the country including its
state so as to preserve a modicum of democracy sugarfields, factories, hotels, and commercial
enterprises as well as the capital city, Suva. The and stability simultaneously. Inequality and ethnic
domination have become the new norms. capital is a vibrant financial and commercial centre
The pattern needs accurate description and as well as being the seat of government. Indians
plausible explanation. In this article, we examine constitute about 55 % of the population on the two
the Fiji case looking at the patterns of inequality islands, and Fijians only about 38 %. The surroun
and repression that have emerged in the new consti ding islands, some 100 of which are permanently
tution of this mini South Pacific state. We do not inhabited, are populated predominantly by indige
argue that inequality and repression were inevita nous Fijians who subsist mainly on traditional agri
ble ; nor do we prescribe such a political order. We culture, fishing, and copra harvesting.
hypothesize however that the background to the The country was colonized formally on October
* The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research
Council of Canada which allowed us to undertake field research in Fiji from 1986 through to 1990.
** Centre for Developing Area Studies McGill University, Montreal.
*•• Department of Political Studies University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Canada.
1. J. S. Furnivall, Colonial Policy and Practice (London : Cambridge University Press, 1948), pp. 304-312. 64 SOCIÉTÉ DES OCÉANISTES
lOth, 1874, when Chief Cakobau ceded Fiji to traditional Fijian culture by establishing a state
Great Britain. The Deed of Cession is viewed by within a state, their insulation ensured that they
indigenous Fijians as their Magna Carta. The Deed would be almost totally unprepared to compete
bound Britain to protect Fijians from European effectively with the Europeans and Indians once
commercial interests and to preserve the Fijian way their circle of interaction expanded beyond the vil
lage. The result was the institutionalization of of life. To halt the steady decline of Fijian customs,
Sir Arthur Gordon, the first British governor of Fijian economic inferiority.
Fiji, initiated three policies that laid the cornerstone By the mid-1980s, about 40 % of all Fijians still
of communalism. First, all land that was not yet subsisted mainly in villages. The typical Fijian wor
alienated to Europeans, consisting of nearly 90 % ker in the monetized modern sector tends to maint
of the country, was to remain under Fijian ain intimate material connections with his or her
ownership. This policy curtailed economic develop village. The Fijian community continues to own
ment of the islands because growth depended upon about 83 % of the land, which is held communally
the availability of Fijian land for commercial by over 7,000 patrilineal groups. Fijians who no
exploitation. Land, then, became an issue. The longer rely on their villages for their income are
second policy was the importation of labour to employed by the government as policemen, army
substitute for Fijians to work on large foreign- officers, teachers, nurses, medical officers, office
owned sugar plantations. Protection of the Fijian workers, and so on. The government services have
way of life required that not only their land which given rise to a well-to-do Fijian middle class. Many
was an integral part of their traditional culture be regard the public service as their preeminent
kept from alienation, but also that the people be domain, much as many Indians regard the commerc
free the labour impositions of European plan ial and sugar sectors as their preserve 5. Fijian
tations. The plantations were the financial penetration of the business sector has been
backbone of the fledgling colony and the major generally unsuccessful, even with special pro
source of revenue for the colonial government. grammes designed to initiate them into the
Moreover, plantations require cheap and abundant commercial world. Fijian culture, being communal,
labour to survive2. noncompetitive, and nonprofit oriented, has been
Denied this source from among the indigenous blamed for the poor performance 6. To date, Fijians
population, Governor Gordon recommended the own very few businesses, which are almost totally
importation of indentured labourers from India as in Indian, European, and Chinese hands, and
had been done elsewhere in British