Abstract
Restoring Democracy: Australian Responses to Military Coups in Fiji
Highlights
After decades of political instability, military takeovers and subsequent international condemnation, Fiji successfully conducted a landmark election in September 2014 that restored democratic processes to the small island nation
Australia’s involvement in Fiji—and, for that matter, the greater South Pacific—has been pillared on democratic promotion. This is based on concerns over a Pacific “arc of instability” that threatens the peace of the region, prompting successive Australian governments to call for a restoration of democracy after each of Fiji’s coups in 1987, 2000 and 2006 (Ayson, 2007; Rumley, 2006; Duncan & Chand, 2002)
This article first revisits the Australian response to the 1987 and 2000 Fijian Coups and provides a contextual framework for understanding the situation after the 2006 military coup. In each of these crises, Australia failed to strike an appropriate balance between simultaneously condemning a military takeover and taking positive steps toward encouraging Fiji to restore normal democratic processes
Summary
After decades of political instability, military takeovers and subsequent international condemnation, Fiji successfully conducted a landmark election in September 2014 that restored democratic processes to the small island nation Calls for such a move by Australia— arguably the most influential regional actor responsible for maintaining peace throughout the South Pacific—have been loud and consistent ever since Military Commander Frank Bainimarama led a coup in December 2006 that overthrew the sitting parliament and placed Fiji under military rule. Australia’s involvement in Fiji—and, for that matter, the greater South Pacific—has been pillared on democratic promotion This is based on concerns over a Pacific “arc of instability” that threatens the peace of the region, prompting successive Australian governments to call for a restoration of democracy after each of Fiji’s coups in 1987, 2000 and 2006 (Ayson, 2007; Rumley, 2006; Duncan & Chand, 2002). For Canberra, anything less than a return to democracy in Fiji threatened the stability of its immediate neighbourhood and weakened Australia’s credentials as a major power capable of maintaining stability in the South Pacific
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