Review: the Politics of Evolving Cultures in the Pacific Islands
Herr, R.A. (1985). "Review: the Politics of Evolving Cultures in the Pacific Islands". Pacific Studies. 8 (2): 130–133. ISSN 0275-3596.
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Abstract: The article titled “Review: the Politics of Evolving Cultures in the Pacific Islands” examines various political cultures within the Pacific Islands by reviewing a collection of studies and contributions that focus predominantly on specific islands, such as Ponape (Pohnpei) and Papua New Guinea. The reviews highlight the fragments within these studies, noting that the level of analysis is often confined to the island or sub-island level, as seen in Peter Black’s assessment of “The In-Charge Complex.”
A significant observation in the article is the absence of a unified theoretical framework that might integrate these individual studies into a broader understanding of Pacific political cultures. It notes that such a framework might not be possible, but if it is, it should be demonstrated rather than assumed. Despite the lack of overarching theoretical consensus, some chapters do present general theoretical or conceptual conclusions, such as Yaw Saffu’s work on Papua New Guinea’s political culture.
The article remarks on the descriptive and historical nature of most contributions, which stems partly from the assumption that readers are not familiar with the region, prompting authors to provide extensive background before addressing primary topics. Katherine Nakata is noted as one of the few authors to deviate from this pattern, employing survey data in her analysis.
Critically, the article suggests that while the collection of works might appear uneven due to their cross-disciplinary nature, this is typical of such anthologies, and overall, the quality remains high. It asserts that this body of work is a commendable step towards the professional study of Island politics, as facilitated by the Institute’s director, Jerry Loveland.
