Political Culture, Representation and Electoral Systems in the Pacific
University of the South Pacific (Emalus Campus), Port Vila, Vanuatu, South Pacific, 10th-12th July 2004
Organised by the Pacific Institute of Advanced Studies in Development & Governance (PIAS-DG), University of the South Pacific & the Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington.
Programme
Friday 9th July 5pm Kava Function, Nakamal, Emalus Campus (with the Oceanic Linguistics Conference participants).
Day One - Saturday 10th July
8.00 Registration
[For those wanting to obtain conference materials, including papers, earlier, registration will also occur at the Meridien Hotel on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th at 5pm. Check with Susan Tafuna’i-mani]
9.00 Welcomes & Addresses
John Lynch, Vice Chancellor, Emalus Campus, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Ron Duncan, Director, Pacific Institute of Development & Governance
Prayer -
9.30 Analysing Pacific Electoral Systems
-Chair – Bernie Grofman, University of California (Irvine)
-‘Do Electoral Systems Really Matter or is Political Culture Everything? An Introductory Paper’, Jon Fraenkel, University of the South Pacific.
-‘Parliaments and Plurality: The Constitutional Structures and Electoral Systems of Pacific Island States’, Stephen Levine and Nigel S. Roberts, Victoria University at Wellington, New Zealand.
-‘Duvenger’s Law and Party Systems in Third Wave Democracies: Insights from Papua New Guinea’, Henry Okole, University of Papua New Guinea.
-‘Applying Typologies to Political Parties in the Pacific’, Roland Rich, Centre for Democratic Institutions, ANU.
(Tea available at back of the room during session)
11.40Talk– ‘Representing the dispersed peoples from Nuclear-affected Rongelap Atoll’, Abacca Maddison, MP for Rongelap, Nitijela, Marshall Islands
12.00 Lunch
1.00 Chiefs, Customary Authority & Political Power
-Chair - Andrew Ladley, Centre for Policy Studies, Victoria University
-‘Democracy, Power, and Political Culture in the Pacific’, Stephanie Lawson, University of East Anglia, UK.
-‘Sämoa’s Electoral System as it Operates on the Ground’, Asafou So’o, National University of Sämoa.
-‘Customary Chiefs in Vanuatu’s Electoral Politics’, Don Patterson, Law School, University of the South Pacific, Vanuatu.
-‘Men Who Lead, Men Who Serve, and Men Who Are Just Big: The Mystery of the Unwanted Politicians in Melanesia’, Ian Fraser USP School of Law.
2.45 Tea-break
3.15 Electoral Systems & Political Culture in Melanesia
-Chair – Ben Reilly, APSEG, ANU
-‘The Operation of the Single Non-Transferable Vote System in Vanuatu’, Howard Van Trease, University of Hawaii.
- ‘Unbounded Politics in the Melanesia; Assessing the Evidence in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands’, Jeanette Bolenga (with Jon Fraenkel), PIAS-DG, University of the South Pacific.
-‘Social Unrest and Electoral Institutions in the Solomon Islands’, John Roughan, Solomon Islands Development Trust, Solomon Islands.
-‘Political Instability, Westminster and Neo-Patrimonialism in Solomon Islands’, Ian Frazer, University of Otago, New Zealand.
5.00 end of day 1.
Evening – Reception organized by the New Zealand High Commission (Invitations will be distributed at the conference)
Day Two - Sunday 11th July
10.30. Presidents, Premiers & Elections in Micronesia
Chair – Graham Hassall, PIAS-DG, University of the South Pacific, Fiji
-‘Micronesian Political Structures and American Models: Lessons Taught and Lessons Learned’, Robert Underwood, University of Guam.
-‘On Checks and Balances within the Federated States of Micronesian’s Presidential System’, Glen Petersen, Baruch College, New York.
-‘The Borda Count in Kiribati & Nauru’, Ben Reilly, APSEG, Australian National University.
-Marshall Islands National Election 2003 — Trends and Implications, Giff Johnson, Editor, Marshall Islands Journal, Majuro, Marshall Islands.
12.20 Lunch
1.20 Talk - ‘A Comparative Summary of Election Administration in the Pacific’, Alistair Legge, (PIANZA & Australian Electoral Commission) & Andrew Ellis, (Institute for Democracy & Electoral Assistance).
1.50 Why is PNG Politics so Competitive?
-Chair – Andrew Ladley, Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington
-‘Papua New Guinea’s Democracy’, Bill Standish, Australia National University.
-‘ “Bigman” and “Cult” Legacies Continue: Villager Perceptions of Elections in the Markham Open’, Sam Kaima, University of Papua New Guinea.
-‘Why Do Winning Candidates Win in Papua New Guinea Open Elections? Looking at Data from Angoram’. Ron May, Australian National University.
-‘A Westminster System of Government in a Melanesian Democracy: Papua New Guinea’, Henry Okole, University of Papua New Guinea.
3.40 Teabreak
4.10What Drives Electoral Politics in Polynesia?
-Chair - David Hegarty, State, Society & Governance in Melanesia Project, ANU
-‘Political Culture, Representation & the Electoral System in the Cook Islands’ Ron Crocombe Raratonga, Cook Islands, & Jon Tikivanotau Jonassen, Brigham Young University, Hawaii
-‘Constitutional Reform Proposals in Tonga’, Ian Campbell, University of Canterbury, Christchurch & University of the South Pacific.
-‘Samoa’s Electoral System: Cultural Propriety & Constitutional Anomalies’, Iutisone Salevao, APSEG, Australian National University.
-‘Elections and the Tongan Mind’, Malakai Koloamatangi, National Centre for Research on Europe, Christchurch, New Zealand.
End day 2 –5.45pm
7pm - Dinner, Evening Reception, and Informal Consultation – venue/Speakers to be announced.
Monday 12th July
9am - Electoral Reform in Ethnically Divided Societies
Chair –Ron Duncan, PIAS-DG, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
-‘From Eloi to Europe: Interactions with the ballot box in New Caledonia’, Nick Maclellan, Journalist & independent author.
-‘Last General Elections in New Caledonia’, Frederick Angleviel, University New Caledonia.
-‘Assessing the Impact of the Alternative Vote System in Fiji’, Bob Stockwell, De Anza College, Cupertino, California. (presented by Michael Malley, Australian Electoral Commission).
-‘The Alternative Vote System in Fiji – Options for the Future’, David Arms, Citizen’s Constitutional Forum, Fiji.
(Tea available at back of the room during session)
11.30 Talk – ‘Activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’, Ian Harris, Clerk to the House of Representatives, Commonwealth of Australia, President of the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments and delegate from the Inter-parliamentary Union.
12.00 Lunch
1.00 Issues of Institutional Design & Electoral Refom
Chair – Stephanie Lawson, University of East Anglia, UK.
-A Theory of Atomistic Federalism for Melanesia’, Philip T. Powell, Indiana University Kelley School of Business
-‘Would a Presidential System Provide More Effective Government for Melanesia?’, John Henderson, Canterbury University (presented by Malakai Koloamatangi).
-‘Constraints and current visions for election of women in Solomon Islands’, Josephine Taekeni, Director of Vois Blong Mere, and Ian Scales, Consultant & Associate at SSGM, ANU.
-‘Challenges of Strengthening the Political Party System in PNG’, Orovu Sepoe, University of Papua New Guinea.
3.00 Teabreak
3.30 Bernie Grofman, University of California, – Institutional Design in the Pacific Islands - Overview of Papers & Plans for Publication
Discussion of Plans for Publication
4.30 Closing Address
-‘Matching Electoral Theory and Political Practice in Pacific Island states’, Graham Hassall, PIAS-DG, University of the South Pacific.
5.00 - Tea and Coffee
Final Thanks.