Pacific Studies Journal
Abstract
Chiefship, a central element of indigenous Fijian society valorized and transformed under colonial rule, is becoming a crucial part of a national political culture for multiethnic Fiji. The collective status and authority of chiefs in Fiji’s political life is grounded not simply in the part they have played in expressing opposition between indigenous Fijians and the descendants of the immigrant Indians, but also in a paradoxical function they have acquired in bridging ethnic conflict. This dual ethnic and national identity was affirmed and reinforced by their endorsement of the recent constitutional reform. This article suggests that in its capacity to contain and dampen the powerful potential for an antagonistic and excluding Fijian ethnonationalism, chiefship may function to help preserve a viable democratic political system for this deeply divided society. Thus it contributes to contemporary debate about the potential for reconciliation between cultural difference and the need for social and political cohesion.
Recommended Citation
Norton, Robert
(1999)
"CHIEFS FOR THE NATION: CONTAINING ETHNONATIONALISM AND BRIDGING THE ETHNIC DIVIDE IN FIJI,"
Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 22:
No.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol22/iss1/4
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