Open AccessThe Mood in Melanesia after the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands
Author(s) -
Carter George,
Firth Stewart
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
asia and the pacific policy studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.529
H-Index - 14
ISSN - 2050-2680
DOI - 10.1002/app5.112
Subject(s) - enthusiasm , assertiveness , independence (probability theory) , context (archaeology) , political science , power (physics) , development economics , sociology , history , psychology , social psychology , archaeology , economics , statistics , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Melanesia is becoming a region of many partners, expanding diplomatic options and a new sense of independence. The wider context of the new Melanesian assertiveness is one in which C hina is a rising power and I ndonesia is forging closer links with the western P acific. The impetus to F iji's new assertiveness arose from the diplomatic isolation imposed upon it by A ustralia and N ew Z ealand after the 2006 military coup. Papua New Guinea's new confidence is founded upon its liquefied natural gas boom. Even S olomon I slands is expanding diplomatic connections. Regionally, the change can be seen in the M elanesian S pearhead G roup, which now counts I ndonesia among its members, and in F iji's push for its own vision of P acific regionalism. A ustralia and N ew Z ealand nevertheless remain the indispensable countries in the region. A ustralia's commitment to Melanesia remains constant but without the bold initiatives and interventionist enthusiasm of the early RAMSI years.