'The Pacific Way'-Consociational Politics in Fiji

Abstract

THIIS ARTICLE attempts to apply the concept of consociationalism (originally devised to explain politics in some smaller European countries, notably the Netherlands) to a developing country, Fiji.' The leading exponent of the concept, Arend Lijphart, is himself from the Netherlands. His original (in every sense) study, The Politics of Accommodation, constituted an explanation of how the Netherlands functioned as a stable democracy in spite of the existence of cleavages in the society which were regarded by many political scientists as conducive to instability. He emphasized the behaviour of elites in societies such as the Netherlands, where there was indeed a minimum of agreement on fundamentals but also a lack of a compreshensive political consensus. There could still be stability if the leaders were convinced of the desirability of preserving the system and were able to co-operate with each other, without alienating their respective followers.2 Consociational democracy was described as government by elite cartel designed to turn a democracy with fragmented political culture into a stable democracy.3 Since then Lijphart has generalized from the experience of other European countries, mostly the smaller democracies, Switzerland and Austria.4 Other writers have also considered exampies.i6f consociation from developed countries.'