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Self-Determination

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The United Nations and the Pacific Islands

Part of the book series: United Nations University Series on Regionalism ((UNSR,volume 24))

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Abstract

This chapter traces the role the United Nations played in the self-determination of Pacific Island peoples. Early in the twentieth century most island communities were governed under “mandates” created by the League of Nations and imposed on subject populations without their formal consent. Notwithstanding the subordinate relations these mandates created between local populations and metropolitan powers, some benefits flowed from increased oversight of their social and economic conditions by the League’s Permanent Mandates Commission. After WWII and the establishment of the United Nations, the “trusteeships” created to replace the League’s “mandates” included an aspiration to prepare them for “self-determination”—a process that would provide options for independence or some form of continued dependence. The self-determination experience of trusteeships differed greatly depending on whether they were subject to rule by Australian, French, American, Dutch, New Zealand, US, or United Kingdom authorities. However, irrespective of the diverse attitudes and strategies of these authorities, the reporting processes of UN Trusteeship Council visiting missions had significant impact on the pace at which self-determination occurred. There were, too, island communities not subject to UN Trusteeships, whose situation was addressed to the extent possible by the UN, notably through its C24 Committee on Decolonization. UN engagement has included support for constitutional dialogue and design. Through these processes 12 island groups have become sovereign nations, another four have chosen dependent status, while more than ten are yet to be given the opportunity to choose.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The USA protested the allocation of Yap to Japan.

  2. 2.

    Unfortunately for the Samoans, in 1928 New Zealand appointed Major General Sir George Richardson as one of its representatives to the Permanent Mandates Commission.

  3. 3.

    http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/specialcommittee.shtml

  4. 4.

    https://unpo.org

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  1. School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Graham Hassall

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Hassall, G. (2023). Self-Determination. In: The United Nations and the Pacific Islands. United Nations University Series on Regionalism, vol 24. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34155-7_2

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