Geopolitics in the South-West Pacific and the recent conflicts

Abstract

This paper focuses on the recent ethnic conflicts on the Solomon Islands and their geopolitical dimensions. Located on the so called “arc of instability”, a region that includes East Timor and other island states along Australia’s north-east coast; the Solomon Islands consists of an archipelago where several different groups lived in relative isolation for centuries. The country gained independence from Britain in 1978. Friction between different ethnic and cultural groups within the country exploded in violence in the late nineties on the island of Guadalcanal including the country’s capital, Honiara, and nearly led to civil war. After the United Nations declined to intervene, there were unsuccessful attempts to resolve the crisis by negotiations. An international force, led by Australia, was sent to the country in 2003 intending to restore law and order and the legitimate government. We aim to understand not only the reasons for the crisis, but the international community’s response to it as well. Key words: Solomon Islands; Australia; Melanesia; South-West Pacific; United Nations.