Melanesian socialism
Encyclopedia
The concept of Melanesian socialism was first advocated by Father Walter Lini
of the New Hebrides
(now Vanuatu
), who became the country's first prime minister
upon its independence
from France
and the United Kingdom
in 1980. Lini's views on socialism were inspired by Julius Nyerere
's experiments in African socialism
in Tanzania
.
Lini believed that socialism
was inherently compatible with Melanesia
n societies and customs, including the emphasis on communal welfare over individualism, and the communal ownership and working of land. In this, Nyerere's influence is perceptible; the latter stressed the similarities between socialism and traditional African ways of life.
Father Lini, an Anglican priest, also believed that socialism held close similarities with Christian
values, and sought to combine the two as part of a "Melanesian way". In this sense, socialism was not to be revolutionary, but instead fully in line with ni-Vanuatu tradition.
Although he admired Nyerere, and although his government sought rapprochement with countries such as Cuba
and Libya
, Lini believed that socialism should not necessarily entail an alliance with the Soviet Union
or the Eastern bloc
. Indeed, he preferred for Vanuatu to remain non-aligned and to develop closer ties with its fellow Melanesian nations (such as Papua New Guinea
and the Solomon Islands
). In 1982, he expressed hopes for an eventual Melanesian federal union, and spoke of the "renaissance of Melanesian values", including "Melanesian socialism".
Lini also noted that, in traditional Melanesian societies, "'Giving' was based on one's ability to do so. 'Receiving' was based on one's need".
In New Caledonia
, the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front
(FLNKS), an alliance of pro-independence parties, advocates the implementation of socialism along with accession to sovereignty
. Independent Melanesian nations (most notably Vanuatu) have expressed support for the FLNKS.
Walter Lini
Father Walter Hadye Lini was an Anglican priest and the founding Prime Minister of Vanuatu. He was born on Pentecost Island. During the era when Vanuatu was a condominium ruled by the United Kingdom and France, Lini formed the Vanua'aku Pati, which was principally backed by English-speakers...
of the New Hebrides
New Hebrides
New Hebrides was the colonial name for an island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The New Hebrides were colonized by both the British and French in the 18th century shortly after Captain James Cook visited the islands...
(now Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
), who became the country's first prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
upon its independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1980. Lini's views on socialism were inspired by Julius Nyerere
Julius Nyerere
Julius Kambarage Nyerere was a Tanzanian politician who served as the first President of Tanzania and previously Tanganyika, from the country's founding in 1961 until his retirement in 1985....
's experiments in African socialism
African socialism
African socialism is a belief in sharing economic resources in a "traditional" African way, as distinct from classical socialism. Many African politicians of the 1950s and 1960s professed their support for African socialism, although definitions and interpretations of this term varied...
in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
.
Lini believed that socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
was inherently compatible with Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
n societies and customs, including the emphasis on communal welfare over individualism, and the communal ownership and working of land. In this, Nyerere's influence is perceptible; the latter stressed the similarities between socialism and traditional African ways of life.
Father Lini, an Anglican priest, also believed that socialism held close similarities with Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
values, and sought to combine the two as part of a "Melanesian way". In this sense, socialism was not to be revolutionary, but instead fully in line with ni-Vanuatu tradition.
Although he admired Nyerere, and although his government sought rapprochement with countries such as Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Lini believed that socialism should not necessarily entail an alliance with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
or the Eastern bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
. Indeed, he preferred for Vanuatu to remain non-aligned and to develop closer ties with its fellow Melanesian nations (such as Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
). In 1982, he expressed hopes for an eventual Melanesian federal union, and spoke of the "renaissance of Melanesian values", including "Melanesian socialism".
Lini also noted that, in traditional Melanesian societies, "'Giving' was based on one's ability to do so. 'Receiving' was based on one's need".
In New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front
Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front
The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front is a militant socialist pro-independence alliance of political parties in New Caledonia. It was founded in 1984 at a congress of various political parties, mainly indigenous but also of disgruntled and progressive New Caledonians of European...
(FLNKS), an alliance of pro-independence parties, advocates the implementation of socialism along with accession to sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
. Independent Melanesian nations (most notably Vanuatu) have expressed support for the FLNKS.
Sources
- HUFFER, Elise, Grands HommesBig man (anthropology)A Big Man refers to a highly influential individual in a tribe, especially in Melanesia and Polynesia. Such person has no formal authority , but maintains recognition through skilled persuasion and wisdom.-Big Man "system":The American anthropologist Marshall Sahlins has been a proponent of the Big...
et Petites ÎlesPacific IslandsThe Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....
: La Politique Extérieure de FidjiFijiFiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, de TongaTongaTonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
et du VanuatuVanuatuVanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
, Paris: Orstom, 1993, ISBN 2-7099-1125-6 - DENOON, Donald & alii (ed.), The Cambridge History of the Pacific Islanders, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997, ISBN 0-521-00354-7
- LINNEKIN, Jocelyn, "The Politics of Culture in the Pacific", in LINNEKIN, Jocelyn & POYER, Lin (ed.), Cultural Identity and Ethnicity in the Pacific, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 1990, ISBN 0-8248-1891-1
See also
- Third World SocialismThird World SocialismThird World Socialism was a variant of Socialism preached by Nkrumah, Modibo Keita, Sekou Touré, Julius Nyerere, al-Bitar, Aflaq, Nasser, Perón, Nehru, Sukarno, Ben-Gurion, Muammar al-Gaddafi, Zulfikar Bhutto, Buddhadasa, Walter Lini and other such socialist leaders of the Third World who saw a...
- African socialismAfrican socialismAfrican socialism is a belief in sharing economic resources in a "traditional" African way, as distinct from classical socialism. Many African politicians of the 1950s and 1960s professed their support for African socialism, although definitions and interpretations of this term varied...
- Arab socialismArab socialismArab socialism is a political ideology based on an amalgamation of Pan-Arabism and socialism. Arab socialism is distinct from the much broader tradition of socialist thought in the Arab world, which predates Arab socialism by as much as fifty years...