Fiji

In 1987 -- first in May and again in September -- Fiji, which hadoften been regarded as a model for racial co-existence, surprised therest of the world by staging not one but two coups. Most interpretersof the Fijian political scene saw the events as a result of tensionbetween native Fijians and members of other ethnic groups. MichaelHoward argues in this book that this interpretation is simplistic.Instead, he points out, the May coup was a strike against democraticgovernment by elements associated with Fiji's traditional oligarchyseeking to hide behind a mask of populist communalism.

Howard traces the evolution of Fijian politics from the precolonialchiefdoms, through the colonial era and into the postcolonial period,emphasizing the developments during the latter half of the 1980s. As aclose and involved observer, he draws a convincing picture of theleading actors in contemporary Fijian politics and the motives guidingtheir actions. He describes how the ruling elite -- the Fijian chieflyfamilies and their allies -- has maintained its power by manipulatingcommunal or racially based sentiments and how the opposition hasattempted to change the situation by creating political alignmentsbased on social class.

In the central part of the book Howard chronicles the rise of theFiji Labour Party and its 1987 election victory over the rulingAlliance Party. He then discusses the short-lived regime of the Bavadragovernment and the events leading up to the May 1987 coup. Finally, helooks at events following the coup, as the oligarchy has sought toreimpose control in the face of popular opposition and internaldivision, discussing their implications for the social condition ofFiji, its international politics, and its internal ethnic relations.The book concludes with the death of Timoci Bavadra in late 1989.

A perceptive case study of racial politics in the modern world and asignificant new approach to the understanding of the dynamics of anon-western political system, Fiji: Race and Politics in an IslandState provides a timely and comprehensive analysis of recentevents in this important island state.