Ponape: a Pacific Economy in Transition

Germer, Ernst (1969-01-01). "Ponape: a Pacific Economy in Transition". EAZ – Ethnographisch-archaeologische Zeitschrift. 10 (1). doi:10.54799/WWKB2215 . ISSN 2751-7233.

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Abstract: “Ponape: a Pacific Economy in Transition” discusses the post-war economic and social transition taking place in Ponape ("Pohnepi"), part of Micronesia, after the American troops took control following the end of the Pacific War in 1945. The article was first published in 1947 and has undergone minor revisions in its current edition, being referred to as the “second edition” by the author.

The work was a part of a comprehensive research project conducted by various scientists and a large technical staff, aiming to provide scientific evidence to address the post-war economic and social issues in Micronesia. The research resulted in a 16-volume series overseen by Douglas L. Oliver, focusing on historical outlines, social structure, and economic conditions to offer solutions to existing challenges. The article limits Ponape’s history to interactions with Europeans and Americans starting from 1826, highlighting a practical purpose tailored for political applications rather than academic completeness.

Besides this, the article takes into account native terminologies and includes a broad coverage of agricultural details, particularly about coconut farming which occupies a significant portion of the study. A bibliography was added in the 1965 edition, compiled by Eugene Anderson, and spans literature from 1835 to 1961, including local linguistic publications. The article acknowledges its methodological aspect significantly when B. worked closely with a primary informant, Thomas Nänipel, who contributed greatly to the research’s success. The re-release of this work is seen as valuable, providing a historical-ethnographic source for analyzing critical social changes in Ponape during a transformative period.

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Publisher: Johanna Mestorf Academy of Kiel University