Mapping the Blue Pacific in a Changing Regional Order

Kabutaulaka, Tarcisius Tara

doi:10.2307/j.ctv1h45mkn.5

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Micronexit is a term that is commonly used to refer to the withdrawal of Micronesian States from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) (Republic of Nauru, 2021). The PIF is an important organization in the region that promotes cooperation among Pacific Ocean countries and territories (Kabutaulaka, 2021). The casus belli for the withdrawal was the election of Henry Puna, a former Cook Islands PM, as the new Secretary General (Angelo & Theys, 2022).…”

Section: Sino-pacific Diplomatic Relations In the Pacific The Value O...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“I’m Sorry, but That’s Bribery”: A Decolonial Perspective From Which to Study Moral Economies in the ‘Chinese Pacific’

Maggio

2023

Island Studies Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“I’m sorry, but that’s bribery,” said reporter Tom Steinfort to Vanuatu Minister of Foreign Affairs Ralph John Regenvanu regarding the supposed support of the island state to China in United Nations resolutions, hypothetically framed as reciprocation for an unprecedented influx of foreign capital. This conceptualization of bribery rests upon recent value negotiations concerning the moral economy of corruption within the context of the ‘China threat’ debate in Oceania. A decolonial methodology is necessary to prevent this superimposition of colonial interests upon indigenous views in journalistic reports, social media outlets, and academic publications. It is, therefore, necessary to interrogate the position from which reporters, journalists, and scholars speak or write about corruption in diplomatic relations in an increasingly Sinicized Pacific. This approach appreciates localized forms of theorizing indigenous ideas about appropriate economic behaviors in the context of new geopolitical relations. In the absence of a decolonial methodology, such ideas might become invisible, along with the intrinsic features of new Sino-Pacific relations.

show abstract

Section: Sino-pacific Diplomatic Relations In the Pacific The Value O...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“I’m Sorry, but That’s Bribery”: A Decolonial Perspective From Which to Study Moral Economies in the ‘Chinese Pacific’

Maggio

2023

Island Studies Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Recently, the 'Blue Pacific' concept, endorsed by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in 2017, has garnered scholarly attention. Through the concept, PICs assert their interests and emphasise the strategic autonomy of the Pacific region (Kabutaulaka, 2021;Morgan, 2020;Wallis et al, 2023). However, the extent to which external partners embrace and engage in this process is unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…276-277). Although Kabutaulaka (2021) assessed the role of the Blue Pacific concept favourably as a narrative and strategy for charting alternative futures in a changing regional order, he does not explicitly state whether external powers genuinely embrace this concept. Therefore, it is critical to evaluate the political significance of this concept in advocating for the security priorities of the Pacific region and the extent to which external partners embrace the interests of PICs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Blue Pacific in Search of a Collective Identity: Towards Success in Regional Security amid US–China Rivalry

Wada,

Cavassa,

Ikeda

2024

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Pacific Islands region has emerged as one of the central areas where the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China is playing out. Thus, to safeguard their own interests, the Pacific Island countries have attempted to manage the competing policies of these external partners. This study focuses the recent adoption of the ‘Blue Pacific concept’ to examine how Pacific Island countries attempt to influence the engagement of their external partners in the region. The formation of the ‘Blue Pacific’ identity must be understood as a mutual process between the Pacific Islands countries and their external partners because they are seeking cooperation with these partners to address the security concerns. We find that the ‘Blue Pacific’ identity formation aligns with region-building, which allows the Pacific Islands countries to stress their own security issues. This study highlights the challenges and opportunities of constructing a collective identity in this context. Finally, the effectiveness of the Blue Pacific strategy remains debatable, although it has yielded success in gaining recognition and support from the external partners.

show abstract

Geopolitical imaginaries in climate and ocean governance: Seychelles and the Blue Economy

Saddington

2023

Geoforum

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mapping the Blue Pacific in a Changing Regional Order

Cited by 8 publications

References 35 publications

“I’m Sorry, but That’s Bribery”: A Decolonial Perspective From Which to Study Moral Economies in the ‘Chinese Pacific’

“I’m Sorry, but That’s Bribery”: A Decolonial Perspective From Which to Study Moral Economies in the ‘Chinese Pacific’

The Blue Pacific in Search of a Collective Identity: Towards Success in Regional Security amid US–China Rivalry

Geopolitical imaginaries in climate and ocean governance: Seychelles and the Blue Economy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About