Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawai'i: the First Three Decades
Kiste, Robert C (December 2009). "Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawai'i: the First Three Decades". Pacific Studies. 32 (4): 439–466. ISSN 0275-3596.
- Has attachment: File:2FLMBM2I.pdf
Abstract: Three men born in 1913 were instrumental in shaping the direction of Pacific Island research and education in the United States during World War II and well into the latter half of the twentieth century. Their involvement in war and postwar activities influenced the course of their careers in ways they could never have envisaged. Douglas Oliver and Leonard Mason were anthropologists, and Norman Meller was a political scientist. They came from quite different backgrounds and differed in personal style and many of their professional interests. All three shared a common concern with the practical application of their work. This article is primarily historical in nature. The first part provides biographical sketches of the three men. The second focuses on their careers and institution building at the University of Hawai‘i (UH) during the formative years of an area studies program now known as the Center for Pacific Islands Studies (CPIS). Area studies were new to the academic scene, and their origins came from outside the academy. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, there was a growing concern about the nation’s ability to respond effectively to perceived external threats from the Soviet Union and the emerging Cold War. Very few American universities of the time taught or conducted research on the non-Western world. Several private foundations stepped into the void and joined together to promote an ambitious initiative in support of area studies training in the United States. Federal support followed the initiatives from the private sector. My own career was intertwined with the three men central to this article...
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MAG: 2184279214 OpenAlex: W2184279214 CorpusID: 154425581
