Australia’s Arc of Instability

The idea for this book emerged from a conversation between Vivian Forbes and Charles Eaton following two seminars held in the Department of Geography at the University of Western Australia given by Trevor So?eld and Christopher Grif?n more than ?ve years ago. One seminar involved papers from Charles Eaton and Christopher Grif?n on the recent Speight coup in Fiji; the other, given by Trevor So?eld, was on the Solomon Islands. The seminars were attended by, among others, Dennis Rumley, who on getting involved in the conversation, suggested the idea of a book and then followed through on its scope, structure, planning, and possible contributors. Looking back now, we owe a special debt of gratitude to Charles Eaton both for his enthusiasm and his ideas then, and for his continued support throughout the whole project. Since that time ?ve years ago, many people have boarded and have left the Arc. Indeed, the very project itself exhibited a degree of instability. At times, it even looked as though it might not stay a?oat. Thankfully, several early boarders remained ?rmly anchored. Other authors were co-opted later, some at relatively short notice, one or two of them under mild duress. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of these contributors for remaining patient, enthusiastic, and keeping faith with the project. Naturally, a project like this, dealing with such a large and dynamic region, will always be out-of-date.

"This book is unique in that it is the first multidisciplinary attempt to critically evaluate the oft-quoted arc of instability both conceptually and in terms of a series of themes and case studies from regional experts. It is of particular interest to specialists in foreign affairs, international relations and political geography, especially in Southeast Asia and Australia and the Southwest Pacific.

Introduction: Australia and the Arc of Instability.- The Emergence of Australia's ARC of Instability.- Australia's Maritime Space: Conflict and Cooperation.- Australia's Unauthorized Arrivals: Security Threat or Moral Responsibility?.- Christmas Island: Remote No More.- Indonesia and the Arc of Instability.- East Timor in the Arc of Instability.- West Papua: Indonesia's 26th Province or Australia's New Neighbor?.- Discontents of Daily Life in the South Pacific.- Papua New Guinea: Disorderly Democracy or Dysfunctional State?.- Solomon Islands: Unity in Diversity - The End of a Dream?.- Nauru in the Arc of Instability: Too Many Degrees of Freedom?.- Vanuatu 2001-2004: Political Will and the Containment of Unrest.- The French Geopolitical Project in New Caledonia.- Unity, Identity, Nation Building: Challenges to Fijian Leadership.- Rock of Ages: Tension Underlying Stability in Tonga.- Samoa: Australia's Pacific Success Story?.- Conclusion: Future Prospects and Possibilities.