Comments on: Fiji: Reality, brand, mirage

By: Whose Rights? Where does Judaism require us to focus our efforts: Global justice, Community Organizing or Israel? | Rabbis for Human Rights - North America

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:36:56 +0000

[...] me calls out “Fiji water,” which is just what I was thinking — the story of Fiji water is pretty fascinating on this [...]

By: gate valve

gate valve — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:08:17 +0000

think Fiji will move forward without Bainimarama moving aside and (at the very least) appointing a civilian government. All talk about political modernization and inclusivity is moot with a military leader at the helm.

By: gate valve

gate valve — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:07:01 +0000

What would it take for circumstances on the ground in Fiji to damage brand Fiji? What would it take for Fiji to move beyond this mirage and build this vision of a nation in reality?

By: s

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:01:47 +0000

Thanks for this post Ethan – its great to see someone from outside the Oceania region taking an interest in what is going on in Fiji. Your point about brand Fiji an interesting one – in Australia, the Fijian brand is very different. Its much more caught up in coups, cheap accommodation and cheap flights. The ‘prestige’ bit of it doesn’t really wash here. Interesting that despite the global reach of media and PR campaigns the actual experience of governments (ie our government is a lot more involved in Fiji than the US is)and citizens (lots of Aussie expats) informs the brand here, and the lack of it allows the ‘other’ brand to flourish in the US. I think the main problem with Fiji Water is probably the same as with most other globalised green brands – anything involving that many air miles is going to be contradictory from the start, whether the military government exists or not.
I think the continued tourist numbers despite the coups are mainly due to the fact that it takes a lot to put Australians off a good cheap holiday… not much to do with the government’s ham-fisted attempts..Its the discounts (which are killing any profits locals might make) and cheap airline tix which are bringing people in and will continue to until something visibly bad – not just midnight beatings – happens.

Also, the change in contribution to GDP from sugar (used to be no 1) to tourism and remittances from military folk serving overseas (now 1 and 2) has lot to do with the underlying politics of this coup. Ethnic Indians benefit more from sugar – ethnic Fijians benefit more from land/military remittances.

Apologies for the long comment.

By: Jefferson I think we're lost

Jefferson I think we're lost — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:35:48 +0000

Because I have lived in parts of Africa and Fiji (and follow both bloggers), I feel compelled to respond. Yes, many African countries would love to have Fiji’s brand. At bottom, Fiji does well because it is a middle-income country that has good infrastructure and a fairly well-educated population.

Of course, Fiji has problems. Unlike most African countries, Fiji needs to figure out what to do with the traditional power structures of the (Methodist) Church, the Land and the Chiefly system. My feeling is the problem lies with the chiefs, who were given too much of a say in national politics in a country where 40 percent of the population is not ethnic Fijian.

Going through this process will be particularly painful. That’s why the present government’s distaste for a free press (and debate) is especially dangerous; especially in light of the fact that the government is stalling any “reforms” for the next few years.

That doesn�t make this government evil. Fiji lives under military power and its government rules by fiat, but as far as dictatorships goes, this is fairly benign. (I�m setting the bar low, I understand.)

The question in Fiji — much like in other multi-ethnic states that have gone bad — is who is leading whom? Is leadership responsible for pushing people towards ethnic tensions? Or, are people more than willing to be lead to hate — and even worse?

As Bill Berkeley persuasively argued in the Graves Are Not Yet Full, leaders were to blame in five of the world’s most horrific inter-ethnic nightmares. Things are nowhere near as bad in Fiji, but if I had to find blame for political instability and discriminatory governments, I’d look at the country’s leaders. By saying that, though, I would also have to point a finger at Fiji’s military. This almost wholly ethnic Fijian institution has had more than its share of the power.

With respects to Laminar_Flow and the other good people who watched in horror as the previous ethnic Fijian government ruled for the benefit of ethnic Fijian society: I don�t think Fiji will move forward without Bainimarama moving aside and (at the very least) appointing a civilian government. All talk about political modernization and inclusivity is moot with a military leader at the helm.

By: Ethan

Ethan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:11:20 +0000

Thanks for the pushback, laminar_flow. In fairness, I am citing several Fijian bridgebloggers in this post. They’ve got a different point of view than you do, but I don’t think it’s fair to say that I’m ignoring Fijian voices. You’re correct in saying that I’m not pointing to all Fijian voices, and I’m grateful for you taking the time to point to a blog that challenges the assertions I’m making about media freedom here. I would also note that organizations like Committee to Protect Journalists, Amnesty International and Human Right Watch have expressed serious concerns about press restrictions in Fiji.

By: laminar_flow

laminar_flow — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:39:00 +0000

Ethan, Remember your interview with "On The Media" about the echo chamber and homophily. Seems that your post on brand Fiji is guilty of the same sins. Maybe you should leave blogging on Fiji to bonafide bridge bloggers and you can settle with Kenyan wedding rituals! Also regarding the media freedom excuse in Fiji, Cafe Pacific's latest post, will bring you up to speed because you're information is on dial-up mode.