Democracy and Custom in Sāmoa

Democracy and Custom in Sāmoa PDF Author: Asofou Soʻo
Publisher: [email protected]
ISBN: 9789820203907
Category : Customary law
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
Subject: Samoa became an independent state on 1 January 1962. In moving toward independence, Samoans made it clear that they wanted a political structure that reflected custom and tradition as well as democracy. The post-independence period demonstrated the practical difficulty of reconciling the two. The author examined the co-existence of the two systems of governance. He concludes that, while there has been signficant progress towards democracy (with positive and negative impacts for indigenous institutions, values and practices), it has been restricted by the persistence of customary ideals. The mixing of tradition and democracy is seen as a phase in the process of continuous social and political change, in which practices and values that no longer fit current circumstances are discarded for more relevant and appropriate ones

Democracy and Custom in Sāmoa

Democracy and Custom in Sāmoa PDF Author: Asofou Soʻo
Publisher: [email protected]
ISBN: 9789820203907
Category : Customary law
Languages : en
Pages : 260

Get Book Here

Book Description
Subject: Samoa became an independent state on 1 January 1962. In moving toward independence, Samoans made it clear that they wanted a political structure that reflected custom and tradition as well as democracy. The post-independence period demonstrated the practical difficulty of reconciling the two. The author examined the co-existence of the two systems of governance. He concludes that, while there has been signficant progress towards democracy (with positive and negative impacts for indigenous institutions, values and practices), it has been restricted by the persistence of customary ideals. The mixing of tradition and democracy is seen as a phase in the process of continuous social and political change, in which practices and values that no longer fit current circumstances are discarded for more relevant and appropriate ones

Tradition Versus Democracy in the South Pacific

Tradition Versus Democracy in the South Pacific PDF Author: Stephanie Lawson
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521496381
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 246

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Book Description
Much literature on non-Western traditions celebrates the renaissance of indigenous cultures. Others have been more critical of this renaissance, especially with respect to its political implications. This study analyses the assertion of 'tradition' by indigenous elites, looking especially at the way it is used to differentiate 'the West' from the 'non-West'. This is important to contemporary discussion about the validity of democracy outside the West and problems concerning universalism and relativism. The discussion of Fiji focuses on constitutional development and the traditionalist emphasis on chiefly legitimacy. The rise of the Pro-Democracy Movement in Tonga is considered against the background of a conservative political order that has so far resisted pressure for reform. The move to universal suffrage in Western Samoa is seen not as a rejection of traditional ways in favour of democratic norms, but as a means of preserving important aspects of traditional culture.

Governance in Samoa

Governance in Samoa PDF Author: Elise Huffer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
Examination of how governance programs have affected local institutions and practices in Samoa. Suggests practical ways for more efficiently tailoring future programs to the development needs of the country. Case studies explore issues of nascent civil society, problems of urban management, non-government organisations working in the area of women's health, relationships between the national government and villages, and the subversion of custom and constitutional processes to personal political ambitions. Includes notes on contributors, glossary, references and index. Editors are academics in the fields of history and Pacific studies.

Democracy in Small States

Democracy in Small States PDF Author: Jack Corbett
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0192516809
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Populism and the personalization of politics appears to be threatening the existence of democracy as we know it all over the world. It is now more important than ever to understand the history of this form of regime: why it has thrives and fails. But, existing studies are limited by their focus on a few large and predominately rich states. This book takes the opposite approach: it investigates how politics is practiced in the smallest states where hyper-personalization has always been a ubiquitous feature of political life. It optimistically finds that hyper-personalized democracy can actually persist against all odds, but also cautions that political practices in small states are often markedly different to larger states. Oxford Studies in Democratization is a series for scholars and students of comparative politics and related disciplines. Volumes concentrate on the comparative study of the democratization process that accompanied the decline and termination of the cold war. The geographical focus of the series is primarily Latin America, the Caribbean, Southern and Eastern Europe, and relevant experiences in Africa and Asia. The series editor is Laurence Whitehead, Senior Research Fellow, Nuffield College, University of Oxford.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Civil rights
Languages : en
Pages : 1316

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Book Description


Background Notes

Background Notes PDF Author: United States. Department of State. Office of Media Services
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Area studies
Languages : en
Pages : 696

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Book Description


Being Political

Being Political PDF Author: Jack Corbett
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 0824841026
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
Politicians everywhere tend to attract cynicism and inspire disillusionment. They are supposed to epitomize the promise of democratic government and yet invariably find themselves cast as the enemy of every virtue that system seeks to uphold. In the Pacific, "politician" has become a byword for corruption, graft, and misconduct. This was not always the case—the independence generation is still remembered as strong leaders—but today's leaders are commonly associated with malaise and despair. Once heroes of self-determination, politicians are now the targets of donor attempts to institute "good governance," while Fiji's 2006 coup was partly justified on the grounds that they needed "cleaning up." But who are these much-maligned figures? How did they come to arrive in politics? What is it like to be a politician? Why do they enter, stay, and leave? Drawing on more than 110 interviews and other published sources, including autobiographies and biographies, Being Political provides a collective portrait of the region's political elite. This is an insider account of political life in the Pacific as seen through the eyes of those who have done the job. We learn that politics is a messy, unpredictable, and, at times, dirty business that nonetheless inspires service and sacrifice. We come to understand how being a politician has changed since independence and consider what this means for how we think about issues of corruption and misconduct. We find that politics is deeply embedded in the lives of individuals, families, and communities; an account that belies the common characterization of democracy in the Pacific as a "façade" or "foreign flower." Ultimately, this is a sympathetic counter-narrative to the populist critique. We come to know politicians as people with hopes and fears, pains and pleasures, vices and virtues. A reminder that politicians are human—neither saints nor sinners—is timely given the wave of cynicism and disaffection. As such, this book is a must read for all those who believe in the promise of representative government.

Introduction to Samoa

Introduction to Samoa PDF Author: Gilad James, PhD
Publisher: Gilad James Mystery School
ISBN: 8495911523
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 115

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Book Description
Samoa is a Polynesian island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands, Upolu and Savai'i, along with several smaller islands. The capital and largest city is Apia, located on the island of Upolu. The population of Samoa is approximately 200,000, with the majority being of Samoan descent. The official languages are Samoan and English, with Samoan being widely spoken in everyday life. Samoa's economy is primarily based on agriculture, tourism, and remittances from Samoans living abroad. The country also has a strong cultural heritage, with traditional Samoan customs and practices still widely observed. One of the most famous aspects of Samoan culture is the fa'a Samoa, which emphasizes respect for family, community, and elders. Samoa is also known for its traditional Samoan dance and music, including the fire knife dance, which is performed by young men using long, sharp knives that are set on fire. Overall, Samoa is a unique and vibrant island nation that is rich in culture and natural beauty.

Radical Democracy and the Internet

Radical Democracy and the Internet PDF Author: L. Dahlberg
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 0230592465
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 262

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Book Description
In this systematic and mutual interrogation of radical democratic theory and Internet practice, contributors examine a range of democratic theories in relation to online communication and explore how such communication may advance democracy beyond what is conceptualized and practised within present liberal-capitalist political contexts.

Handbook of Global Political Policy

Handbook of Global Political Policy PDF Author: Stuart Nagel
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000643565
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 672

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Book Description
The latest in the six-volume set of global policy handbooks, this reference utilizes a cross-national, cross-policy approach to examine the public policy of six different regions around the world. Combining actual and theoretical perspectives, the book compares and presents nonideological resolutions to current political conditions worldwide. With contributions from over 30 international policy experts and academicians and containing over 1200 literature references, tables, and drawings, the book is an insightful resource for public administrators and public policy experts, political scientists, economists, sociologists, attorneys, and students in these disciplines.