NationStates Jolt Archive

An overwhelming majority of those who testified at a public hearing yesterday support the recommendation of the Future Political Status Study Commission (FPSSC) that American Samoa maintain its current political relationship with the United States.

[...] The prevailing opinion that emerged from the four hour hearing was that there was no need to consider a change in American Samoa’s current relationship with the United States and that independence was not an option.

The report recommends that American Samoa retain its current status as an unorganized and unincorporated territory and initiate a process of negotiation with the U.S. Congress for a permanent political status.

Commission member Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Alailima-Utu said the recommendation to maintain the current political status was the desire of the majority of responses they gathered from the community during the commission’s public meetings both in the territory and off-island last year.

However, he said there are changes that can be made that would strengthen the territory’s ability to be self-governing. American Samoa Senator Magututia V. Tuatoo was of the opinion that American Samoa is not totally free. He said the United States gives funds with conditions and to him that’s not freedom.

[...] On the issue granting automatic U.S. citizenship to persons born in American Samoa, views were divided with some saying that American Samoa would receive more benefits if they were U.S. citizens. Others say this would be a threat to the local matai and land system.


(link (http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2007/11/17/majority-testify-for-no-change-in-relationship-with-washington))

Recently, Tokelau rejected a proposal to obtain self-government from New Zealand. It really seems to remaining colonies in the Pacific don't want to be decolonised.

A lot of people are afraid of major changes, particularly when they are comfortable. Additionally, independence can be expensive.

A lot of people are afraid of major changes, particularly when they are comfortable. Additionally, independence can be expensive.

The latter is a key point. The main reason why New Zealand's dependencies (Niue, the Cook Islands and Tokelau) don't want complete independence is because they don't want to lose the advantages of depending on NZ. They receive funds and infrastructure, which makes their quality of life generally higher than sovereign Pacific Island nations. They also have unrestricted access to NZ if they want to migrate, and they have the status of NZ citizens. The prospect of sovereignty, by contrast, offers fairly little.

Would American Samoa become independent? I would have thought they would have reunified with the Independent Republic of Samoa, although of course there might now be enough difference between the two since being split in 1899.

As an afterthought, a lot of people don't know about European/American colonisation in the Pacific - my education on the 'age of colonialism' focused on Africa only.

If independence would just decrease their standards of living and make trading more difficult, I can't blame them for saying no. With the current situation they get aid, a guaranteed trading partner and if the need comes up, an army to defend them. I can see why they may want to have more power over their home affairs, but it makes sense to stay part of the bigger power.

Would American Samoa become independent? I would have thought they would have reunified with the Independent Republic of Samoa, although of course there might now be enough difference between the two since being split in 1899.

Presumably they'd discuss it with Samoa.


As an afterthought, a lot of people don't know about European/American colonisation in the Pacific - my education on the 'age of colonialism' focused on Africa only.

Indeed. Which is a shame. The colonial period in the Pacific is quite fascinating. For instance, the United States and Germany were major colonial powers there (which of course they weren't in Africa). Colonisation was, in some cases, done at the request of islanders themselves (in Fiji, Niue...). There were very few pro-independence movements, and decolonisation mostly happened amicably - although there were problems in Melanesia, with secessionist movements in Vanuatu, the Solomons and PNG. Oh, and Samoans didn't keep entirely fond memories of their former New Zealander colonisers.

"All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"

All the pacific islands should join some federation together...

"All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"

Heh. That's about it, yes.

All the pacific islands should join some federation together...

Actually, there are a great number of international cooperation agencies specific to Pacific nations. The best known in the Pacific Islands Forum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Islands_Forum), but it isn't the only one. Melanesian countries have their own alliance (the Melanesian Spearhead Group), and I think Micronesian countries have regional meetings of their own too.

Interesting thread, interesting topic. The opening statement that decolonisation isn't a desire seems overbroad though. There appears to be resistance to what is considered 'further colonisation', namely becoming full US citizens, as the impact that would have on traditional systems is fairly apparent. As people have pointed out, it would be...somewhat foolish to sever economic ties with nothing in place to take up the slack. Granted, this is going to hinder the process of decolonisation, but not perhaps to the extent that some people think. Economic colonisation is rampant in all areas of the world as it is...I'm not sure how anyone could fully decolonise themselves from that influence. If the association with the US allows the American Samoans the economic ability to maintain their traditions, then asserting complete independence might actually be counter productive in that regard.

If the association with the US allows the American Samoans the economic ability to maintain their traditions, then asserting complete independence might actually be counter productive in that regard.

Indeed.

Other countries have sought to find the best balanced solution. The Cook Islands, for example, have self-government but not sovereignty, and are still dependent on New Zealand. This enables them to tap into a secure source of aid and develop their own policies, without the risk of economic difficulty faced by sovereign Small Island States.

Presumably they'd discuss it with Samoa.
Well, I imagine it would make independence more viable if they had a state to integrate with upon independence. Although, if they wanted to continue the advantages of being 'in' the US they'd have to go in to free association like Pulau (?sp) which Samoa might not want.

Indeed. Which is a shame. The colonial period in the Pacific is quite fascinating. For instance, the United States and Germany were major colonial powers there (which of course they weren't in Africa). Colonisation was, in some cases, done at the request of islanders themselves (in Fiji, Niue...). There were very few pro-independence movements, and decolonisation mostly happened amicably - although there were problems in Melanesia, with secessionist movements in Vanuatu, the Solomons and PNG. Oh, and Samoans didn't keep entirely fond memories of their former New Zealander colonisers.
Well, I can't claim to be an expert on Pacific colonialism, most of my sparse knowledge comes from Wikipedia, but I know enough to know it has been sorely neglected. As I said - colonialism focuese entirely on Africa in the British curriculum. An interesting area of history though. Hopefully, when my history course gets properly underway, I'll be able to get to study more of the bits of history that gets glossed over.

"All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?" 1000 denari for you.

So things are staying the same? Ok....