Webinar Theme 1: Rippling politics in the Pacific

Join some of the Pacific’s leading experts discuss some latest Pacific political events and implications on stability and security.

Organised by the Pacific Regional Security Hub, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury

The Pacific Regional Security Hub was established in November 2024 with the support of the UK Government in recognition of a critical need to deepen conversations, research and networks between and across Pacific thinkers and scholars in response to increased geopolitical attention being paid to the region. The PRSH is led by Associate Professor (of Practice) José Sousa-Santos (Convenor) and located within the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Canterbury. The Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, led by Pro-Vice Chancellor Pacific Distinguished Professor Steven Ratuva, is a world leader in interdisciplinary research on the Pacific.


WEBINAR DISCUSSION PANEL 1: RIPPLING POLITICS IN THE PACIFIC

The first Webinar will be focused on the political stand-off between the King and Prime Minister in Tonga, parliamentary dissolution and snap elections in Vanuatu, political showdown in Samoa and constitutional and judicial crisis in Fiji. To what extent are these dynamics “normal” or part of deeper political crisis? What are the rippling effects on national and regional stability and security?

The speakers are:  

Political stand-off between King and Prime Minister

Lopeti Senituli
PRSH Visiting Fellow

Former President of the Tonga Law Society

Former Advisor, Prime Minister of Tonga

Former CEO, Ministry of Internal Affairs

Former Director, Pacific Concerns Resource Centre 

Parliament dissolution and snap election in Vanuatu 

Associate Professor Tess Newton-Cain

PRSH Visiting Fellow

Adjunct Associate Professor Griffith University

Political showdown in Samoa

Dr Levi Tavita

PRSH Visiting Fellow

Political Scientist, National University of Samoa

PhD thesis on the political transformation in Samoa  

Constitutional and judicial challenges in Fiji

Distinguished Professor Steven Ratuva

Pro-Vice Chancellor Pacific

Director, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies

Founding Chair, International Political Science Association Research Committe Climate Security and Planetary Politics

Former Chair, International Political Science Association Research Committee on Conflict, Security and Political Change 

Moderator

Associate Professor of Practice Jose Sousa-Santos, Convenor, PRSH