Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Population movement in Post-Colonial Fiji: Review and speculation

  • Published:
GeoJournal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

May 1987 is a month that will not be forgotten in the South Pacific. The first of two military coups d'etat led by Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka not only transformed the course of post-colonial political development in Fiji, but this event also had profound implications for international relations in the region. Co-incidentally, May 1987 was also the month when detailed results of Fiji's second national population census since Independence in 1970 became available. The 1986 census documents Fiji's population on the eve of a political revolution which has the potential to cause significant economic and social change. The demographic process most likely to be affected in the short-term by the coups is population movement, both within Fiji and to overseas destinations. This: paper examines developments in population movement between 1970 and 1986 with particular reference to an acceleration in levels of migration overseas by Indians and an exodus of Fijians from rural village communities for towns on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Trends in internal and international migration are evaluated at a range of spatial scales — national, regional and local. Some speculation on the effect of political and economic changes since May 1987 on these population movements attempts to provide a contemporary perspective on demographic developments over the last 15 years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bayliss-Smith, T. P.: Hurricane Val in north Lakeba: the view from 1975. In: Brookfield, H. C. (ed.), The hurricane hazard: natural disaster and small populations, pp. 65–98. Unesco/UNFPA Island Reports No. 1, Australian National University for Unesco, Canberra 1977a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayliss-Smith, T. P.: Koro in the 1970s: prosperity through diversity. Unesco/UNFPA Island Reports No. 2, Australian National University for Unesco, Canberra 1977b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayliss-Smith, T. P.: Batiki in the 1970s: satellite of Suva. In: Brookfield, H. C. (ed.), The small islands and reefs, pp. 67–128. Unesco/UNFPA Island Reports No. 4, Australian National University for Unesco, Canberra 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayliss-Smith, T. P.: Population pressure, resources and welfare: towards a more realistic measure of carrying capacity. In: Brookfield, H. C. (ed.), Population-environment relations in tropical islands: the case of eastern Fiji, pp. 61–94. Unesco Press, Paris 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayliss-Smith, T. P.; Bedford, R. D.; Brookfield, H. C.; Latham, M.: Islands, islanders and the world: the colonial and postcolonial experience of Fiji. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1988 (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedford, R. D.: Demographic processes in small islands: the case of internal migration. In: Brookfield, H. C. (ed.), Populationenvironment relations in tropical islands: the case of eastern Fiji, pp. 29–60. Unesco press, Paris 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedford, R. D.: Population movement in a small island periphery: the case of eastern Fiji. In: Chapman, M.; Prothero, R. M. (eds.), Circulation in population movement: substance and concepts from the Melanesian case, pp. 333–359. Routledge Kegan Paul, London 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedford, H. C.; Brookfield, M.: Population change in Lakeba, 1946–1976: perspectives on fertility and migration. In: Brookfield, H. C. (ed.), Lakeba: environmental change, population dynamics and resource use, pp. 199–216. Unesco/ UNFPA Island Reports No. 5, Australian National University for Unesco, Canberra 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedford, R. D.; Gibson, K.: Migration, employment and development in the south Pacific: New Zealand. ILO/SPC Country Report No. 23B, International Labour Organisation and South Pacific Commission, Noumea 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedford, R. D.; McLean, R. F.; Macpherson, J.: Kabara in the 1970s: home inspite of hazards. In: Brookfield, H. C. (ed.), The small islands and the reefs, pp. 9–66. Unesco/UNFPA Island Reports No. 4, Australian National University for Unesco, Canberra 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bienefeld, M.: Work and income for the people of Fiji: a strategy for more than just survial. Parliment of Fiji, Parliamentary Paper No. 66 of 1984, Government Printer, Suva 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookfield, H. C. (ed.): Population-environment relations in tropical islands: the case of eastern Fiji. Unesco Press, Paris 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchignani, N.: The effect of Canadian immigration on the political economy of Fiji. In: Mehmet, O. (ed.), Poverty and social change in southeast Asia, pp. 265–283. Ottawa 1979.

  • Buchignani, N.: The social and self-identities of Fijian Indians in Vancouver. Urban Anthropology 9, 75–97 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bureau of Statistics: Social indicators for Fiji. Government Printer, Suva 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bureau of Statistics: 1986 Census of Population. Statistical News, 20, Census Office, Suva 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. R.: Dealing with disaster: hurricane response in Fiji. Government Printer, Suva 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Central Planning Office: Fiji's seventh development plan, 1976–1980. Government Printer, Suva 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Central Planning Office: Fiji's eighth development plan, 1981–1985. Government Printer, Suva 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Central Planning Office: Fiji's ninth development plan, 1986–1990. Government Printer, Fiji 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandra, R.: Rural-urban population movement in Fiji, 1966–1976: a macro-analysis. In: Jones, G. W.; Richter, H. V. (eds.), Population mobility and development: southeast Asia and the Pacific, pp. 329–354. Development Studies Centre Monograph No. 27, Australian National University, Canberra 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connell, J.: Migration, employment and development in the South Pacific: Fiji. ILO/SPC Country Report No. 4, International Labour Organisation and South Pacific Commission, Noumea 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connell, J.: Migration, employment and development in the South Pacific: Australia. ILO/SPC Country Report No. 23A, International Labour Organisation and South Pacific Commission, Noumea 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connell, J.: Population growth and emigration: maintaining a balance. In: Taylor, M. (ed.), Fiji: future imperfect, pp. 14–32. Allen and Unwin, Sydney 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dommen, E. C. (ed.): Islands. World Development 8, 929–1059 (1980)

  • France, P.: The charter of the land: custom and colonisation in Fiji. Oxford University Press, Melbourne 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillion, K. L.: Fiji's Indian migrants: a history to the end of indenture in 1920. Oxford University Press, Melbourne 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jalan, B. (ed.): Problems and policies in small economies. Croom Helm and St. Martins Press, London 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lodhia, R. N.: Report on the census of population, 1976: Volume 1. Parliament of Fiji, Parliamentary Paper No. 13 of 1978, Government Printer, Suva 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Medical Department: Report for the year ended 1971. Parliament of Fiji, Parliamentary Paper No. 2 of 1974, Government Printer, Suva 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macnaught, T. J.: The Fijian colonial experience: a study of the neotraditional order under British colonial rule prior to World War II. Pacific Research Monograph No. 7, Australian National University, Canberra 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nair, S.: Rural-born Fijians and Indo-Fijians in Suva: a study of movements and linkages. Development Studies Centre Monograph No. 24, Australian National University, Canberra 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nair, S.: Fijians and Indo-Fijians in Suva: rural-urban movements and linkages. In: Chapman, M.; Prothero, R. M. (eds.), Circulation in population movement: substance and concepts from the Melanesian case, pp. 306–329. Routledge Kegan Paul, London 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravuvu, A.: Vaka i taukei: the Fijian way of life. Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific, Suva 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selywn, P. (ed.): Development policy in small countries. Croom Helm, London 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shand, R. T. (ed.): The island states of the Pacific and Indian Oceans: anatomy of development. Development Studies Centre Monograph No. 23, Australian National University, Canberra 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tubuna, S.: Patterns of return migration in the Wainbuka valley: Viti Levu, Fiji. In: Chapman, M.; Prothero, R. M. (eds.), Circulation in population movement: substance and concepts from the Melanesian case, pp. 213–224. Routledge Kegan Paul, London 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Unesco/UNFPA: Population, resources and development in the eastern islands of Fiji: information for decision-making. Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) Project 7, Ecology and the Rational Use of Island Ecosystems, Australian National University for Unesco, Canberra 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, A. C.: Migration, urbanisation and development in south Pacific countries. ESCAP Country Report No. 6, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Fertility Survey: Fiji fertility survey, 1974. Principal Report, Bureau of Statistics, Suva 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwart, F. H. A. G.: Report on the census of the population, 1966. Legislative Council of Fiji, Council Paper No. 9, Government Printer, Suva 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwart, F. H. A. G.: Report on the census of the population, 1976. Volume 2. Parliament of Fiji, Parliamentary Paper No. 43 of 1979, Government Printer, Suva 1979.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University, of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Bedford R. D.

Authors
  1. Bedford R. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bedford, R.D. Population movement in Post-Colonial Fiji: Review and speculation. GeoJournal 16, 179–192 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02433013

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02433013

Keywords

Search

Navigation