Redefining the Pacific?

This comprehensive volume examines the future effectiveness of regional institutions as well as key questions concerning the attempts to overcome ongoing serious problems of security, governance and poor economic performance in the Pacific. What is obvious from this collection is that a new and stronger commitment to overcoming national problems is required through regional cooperation. The volume is highly suited to courses on international political economy, security and regional cooperation.

'With a powerful ensemble of academics and government representatives to make their case, this book examines how regional cooperation in the Pacific - involving governments and civil society - is being reshaped by enhanced economic and political integration, more effective resource management and fledging international diplomacy. This, in a context of emergent unilateralism (Australia), failed state politics (Solomon Islands), economic liberalization and security concerns.' Godfrey Baldacchino, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada 'Some edited collections date very quickly, but this book retains its utility for scholars and policy makers alike...Redefining the Pacific? provides valuable insights into recent efforts to build a stronger regional community, at a time when the Pacific Islands Forum is trying to implement the vision of the Pacific Plan.' The Contemporary Pacific '...this collection will serve as a benchmark for a process of change in the Pacific Islands region that is likely to continue for some time to come. The impressive list of authors gives authority to the analyses offered. And, whatever direction the region takes and whatever role that regionalism plays in the adaptation of member states make to the less congenial international environment of the 21st century, this volume will be a very useful starting point for understanding the origins and motivations for the Pacific Plan.' Journal of Pacific History '[The book] undeniably crams in a great deal of information on the Pacific and South Pacific. Awareness of the socio-economic problems of the region is vital for anyone interested in "redefining the Pacific", and in that respect this volume, with its great wealth of data, can be of help.' Bijdragen - Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia and Oceania

Jenny Bryant-Tokalau is a Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the University of Otago, New Zealand, where she teaches Contemporary Pacific Cultures and Cultural Interpretations of Environment and Nature. As former Associate Professor of Geography at the University of the South Pacific (Fiji), and head of the Global Environment Facility unit for UNDP in Suva, she authored a number of publications and reports on poverty and development. Jenny's current research interests include poverty, inequality and environment linkages in the Pacific, and issues of environmental governance. Ian Frazer has recently retired as Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the University of Otago. His research interests include the history & political economy of the independent Melanesian states especially Solomon Islands; the study of work; historical sociology. He also served as head of Anthropology at Otago University for a number of years before he retired.

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