The Challenges And Opportunities For The Pacific Islands Politics Essay

The Challenges And Opportunities For The peaceable Islands Politics EssayWhen hearing the word pacific Islands our minds wander hit and mirror images of swaying palms, idyllic beaches, tranquil waters, cheap holidays and smiling locals. Beyond these characterisations, the peaceable island arena is also known for its immense complexity and intriguing motley. This is partly symbolised by the lands landmass fragmentation into thousands of scattered islands spread over the sulfur peaceful. In line with this, my essay assesses some challenges to and some opportunities for the peace-loving Island states since the erupt of the Soviet Union. Prior to this assessment, a landal profile is presented. Secondly, there is a brief explanation of the Pre- and Post- rimy struggle Pacific Island history. There afterwards, this essay addresses its core issues with the identification and assessment of some relevant Post-Cold War challenges to and a total of opportunities for the Pacific island kingdom. To conclude I reiterate the essays major points of analysis.Pacific Island states in the post-Cold War Worldregional ProfileThe Pacific Island region, which consists of 14 Island states and 21 governmental entities, is unique in many ways. Firstly, the South Pacific, which stretches from Australia and Papua tonic ginzo in the West to South America in the East, makes up superstar third of the earth. Simultaneously, this broad area is only home to 0.5% of the humanity population. Secondly, the region shows its uniqueness in a political sense through its distinctive cultures which gravely impact national and regional Pacific politics. This cultural diversity is reflected in the regions 3 main cultural groups Melanesia in the West, Americanised Micronesia in the North and Polynesia in the South and East. Finally, according to Graham this aid open region, is exclusive and unseen payable to its vast distance from spherical metropolitan centres, fragile ecosyste ms, particular(a) resource base and the cultural clash surrounded by traditional lifestyles and the individualistic orientation of cash economies.The Pacific Islands in the pre and post-Cold War eraPre-Cold War eraIn the early twentieth century, the Pacific Island region entered a new era after its colonisation by the occidental Powers. Over the next 50 years, the region, which was subjected to various territorial source shifts and the Japanese Invasion during World War II, remained under control of the Western nations. These latter established the South Pacific Commission, an consultative body on economic and well-disposed matters and more importantly a first play of regional cooperation, in 1947. in spite of their decolonisation in the 1960s and 1970s, the pertly emerged in full indep shutdownent or self-governing island nations, swaned close connections collectible to a lack of economic self-sufficiency with their former Western colonisers, in particular Australia, Ne w Zealand and the United States.In the early 1970s, the regional cooperation was only expanded through the establishment of the South Pacific Forum, a 16-member consisting advisory body on political matters. In the same decade and fundamentally throughout the Cold War the aforementioned 3 regional powers employ a strategic denial tactic against growing Chinese and Russian regional interests. succession those three external regional powers were able to disgust Soviet and Chinese overtures as well as control the region through the provision of buzz offment and pecuniary aid help in the 1970s, the Pacific Island nations became more unsettled as a myriad of conflicts emerged in the following decade. Hence, the volatile 1980s, which resolving powered in increased domestic and regional political instability, were characterised by a series of illustrious events military coups in Fiji, New Caledonian violence, temporary cession of the NZ-US ANZUS relationship, lawlessness in Papua Ne w Guinea, a well-bred war on Bougainville and so forth.Post-Cold War eraSince the end of the Cold War and the disappearance of the superpower rivalry by around 1990, the Pacific Island region has been confronted with numerous changes. For instance, the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in an progressively multi polar world and made internationalist and regional organisations more influential. Furthermore, the thrift started to play a pivotal role in international affairs. Contrastingly, the strategic value of the region for superpowers such as the US and the UK dwindled at first. However, after a growing Chinese interest, in particular the United States reviewed its regional strategy and policies. several(prenominal) of these changes also created tensions and fuelled political instability at times. Corollary, the end of the Cold War also gravely affected the interests of the ANZAC countries. Due to the global emphasis on economic rationalism, the regions largest aid donors were pressured to lessen their unilateral involvement. later signing a number of agreements in the beginning of the new millennium, the Pacific Island forum leaders implemented The Pacific Plan for strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration in 2005. Overall, these numerous changes, which not only had a big impact on the region, have resulted in a series of challenges and opportunities for the Pacific Island nations.ChallengesEnvironmental i of the key challenges for the Pacific Island environment is the issue of clime Change. In an era characterised by increasing ocean levels and the warming of the globe, the world was forced to commit itself to sustainable development. In response to the looming scenarios and dire implications of this phenomenon, international and regional organisations have prioritised the Pacific Island situation collectible to its higher up come rising sea levels. This latter has placed more stress on systems already under a lot of pressure. For in stance, as a result of global warming, in the short term, the pacific islands could become prone to annihilating storms. This could then lead to the contamination of the regions drinking water by sea water and ultimately to the inundation of many Pacific Island entities. Being fully aware of this, the South Pacific Forum has lobbied to raise international sensory faculty and has aimed for the implementation of a framework convention on climate change. Unfortunately, at present the involved picayune island states have yet to reach a consensus collectable to a negative cost-benefit analysis. However, unless a large-scale cooperation is established, the further humanity of many low-lying islands bequeath indeed be at stake. some other important environmental and economic issue concerns the resource management of Fisheries. In particular the Pacific Island tuna fishery, one of the worlds largest, is of vast importance to the region. Despite the region having a rich and extensive m arine life, its lack of cash to develop and protect its 200 mile exclusive economic zones (EEZ) has created a major regional challenge. While having ensured the property rights over its marine resources, due to distressing management and lacking funds, the island nations only receive a splendid proportion of the tuna fishery revenue. Moreover, tuna stocks face depletion due to unregulated fishing and open access. This results from the fact that the commercial fishing industry in the region is in hands of transnational companies and foreign fishing fleets. Therefore, to maintain this major source of income for future generations, it will be vital to vindication a fairer distribution of the tuna fishery benefits and to prevent the depletion of its marine resources.Some of the other important regional environmental challenges are coastal area management, forestry, biodiversity, unregulated mining and domestic waste and problems of sanitation and water pollution. governmentalOne of the main political challenges is to establish good governance to pass off or at least minimise cozy and external conflicts. Unfortunately, due to its late decolonisation from the Western Powers and its current heavy dependency on foreign aid the regional island states lack political and constitutional tradition. As a result, the Pacific Island region has an abundance of young island states facing internal instability. Furthermore, given the withdrawal of most Great powers from the region, the island states face a horrible task of dealing with plentiful political challenges postgraduate crime rate, numerous ethnic conflicts, corruption, drug trafficking, border disputes and so forth.Physical/EconomicThe Pacific Island region has a relatively weak economy. It is generally believed that the areas geographic remoteness, small size and small population base are the main reasons for this feat. Furthermore, its poor transport and communication links, heavy dependence on foreign states and limited resources have further affected the regions low economic growth. This latter has a clear impact on the regions low levels of employment which has led to poverty, social instability and crime. Furthermore, the employment challenge faced by the region is massive due to the rapid population growth in Micronesia and Melanesia. In order to overturn this doom spiral, luxuriouslyer economic growth will need to be created by adequate government spending on healthcare, urban infrastructure, waste management and environmental adaptation systems.OpportunitiesWhile the region faces a high number of challenges, one can be approbative as there are definitely some growth opportunities for the region.One of these is the effect current Chinese investment has on the Pacific Island economy. perpetually since the late 1990s Chinas influence in the South Pacific has expectant rapidly. Regardless what Chinas motivations are, from the Pacific Island nations point of view any financial assi stance can be an opportunity for the region. At present, China has already offered high amounts of financial and development assistance to enhance trade, improving local infrastructure, develop natural resources such as mining and petroleum and so forth. some other regional opportunity for growth lies in the regions tourism industry. Despite its high potential, the regions weak infrastructure, costly transportation, social and political instability, high crime rates and disease risks have slowed down tourism growth. To overcome these obstacles and truly take advantage on this massive opportunity, local governments and regional mechanisms need to address these above mentioned external constraints, develop national tourism policies in terms of its environmental impact, invest in tourism-related training to boost employment and improve merchandise and data.Politically, establishing effective political leadership resulting in sustained growth is considered as a regional opportunity. T his latter can only be ended through reforms. For instance, if one can strengthen the electoral systems and parliaments and involve the urbane society in politics it will have a enormously positive effect on the government performance which will reverting the current doom spiral by minimising the numerous challenges the region is presently facing.In conclusion, it is evident from the above analysis of the Pacific Island region that due to slow growth various challenges are looming for the South Pacific nations. While there are a multitude of opportunities and despite foreign financial and developmental aid, without rapid economic growth the island nations will be futile to meet the various regional economic/physical, political and environmental challenges. at any rate creating economic growth, it will be vital to manage its resources such as fishery, forestry, mining and tourism. In order to do so, vast and dramatic changes in political governance will be required. It remains to be seen though whether a combination of regional cooperation and local political stability through good governance will result into a major turn of events point in the Pacific Island history.