Democracy and Custom in Samoa: An Uneasy Alliance - Softcover

Asofou So'o

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9820203902 ISBN 13: 9789820203907

Publisher: Institute of Pacific Studies, 2008

Synopsis

Samoa became an independent state on 1 January 1962. In moving toward independence, Samoans made it clear that they wanted a political structure that reflected custom and tradition as well as democracy. The post-independence period demonstrated the practical difficulty of reconciling the two -- both of which are provided for in Samoa's constitution. In Democracy & Custom in Samoa: An uneasy alliance So'o examines the co-existence of the two systems of governance. He concludes that, while has been significant progress toward democracy -- with positive and negative impacts for indigenous institutions, values and practices- it has been restricted by the persistence of customary ideals. The mixing of tradition and democracy is seen as a phase in the process of continuous social and political change, in which practices and values that no longer fit current circumstances are discarded for more relevant and appropriate ones. Democracy and Custom in Samoa will be rewarding reading for anyone interested in the interaction between old and new cultures, and in social and political change in Samoa, the Pacific and elsewhere.

About this edition

• Publisher: Institute of Pacific Studies
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 9820203902
• ISBN 13: 9789820203907
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 238