From a ‘cultural logic’ to an ‘institutional logic’: The politics of human rights in Pacific Island Countries

Abstract

This article examines the politics of human rights in Pacific Island Countries (PICs). It expands the focus from “culture” to “institutions” to analyze how PICs have engaged with the international human rights regime. We reveal that although the Pacific Island Countries have ratified more international human rights treaties and engaged proactively with the international human rights regime in recent years, this shift has not substantially led to accountability necessary to protect, respect, and promote human rights. To unpack this contradiction, we propose an analytical approach, what we call, an “institutional logic.” Using the institutional logic, we argue that the current situation of human rights in PICs is primarily determined by the presence or absence of necessary institutional arrangements pertaining to rights. Thus, we conclude by suggesting that significant institutional reforms are indispensable for protecting and promoting human rights in PICs.