Electoral Systems

'Political Culture, Representation and Electoral Systems in the Pacific' Conference, Vanuatu 2004

Organised by the Pacific Institute of Advanced Studies in Development and Governance (PIAS-DG), University of the South Pacific & the Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington.

In July 2004 PIAS-DG held a conference Political Culture, Representation, and Electoral Systems in the Pacific, in collaboration with the Institute of Policy Studies at the Victoria University of Wellington This first of what will be a series of conferences the Institute is to hold on themes of particular significance to the Pacific region, included 38 papers presented over three days. Presentations covered the French and North Pacific Micronesian Territories, as well as important on-going debates about electoral issues in Papua New Guinea. That a general election was called in Vanuatu on July 5th added to the topicality of the event, and the conference received media coverage from ABC, Radio New Zealand, as well as the Vanuatu Daily Post and Independent.  A significant number of conference papers are to appear in print, including some in a special issue of the Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics (scheduled for November 2005.

Participants came from USP (from both Suva and Port Vila campuses), ANU, the Victoria University of Wellington, the Forum Secretariat, UNDP, CCF, NZ Prime Ministers Office, the Australian Senate (representing the International Parliamentary Union), the Australian Electoral Commission, PIANZA, and IDEA. Locally, the Vanuatu branch of Transparency International was strongly represented, as was AusAid. Professor Bernard Grofman, one of the world's leading experts in the electoral systems literature, was among the keynote speakers.

Although this was conceived as a conference on electoral systems, we chose the broader focus on 'Political Culture, Representation and Electoral Systems in the Pacific' because we wanted to make sure that papers looked at the interaction between electoral systems and local political cultures. One result was a broadening of focus, with many papers looking at associated issues of presidentialism, federalism and other constitutional issues.

The conference generated much in the way of ideas for future work, in additional to practical recommendations, and a number of strong ideas for electoral systems research will be followed up over the next year or so. Issues raised by the South Pacific Forum's Pacific Plan were a repeated point of reference.

Programme

Day One - Saturday 10th July

9.30 Analysing Pacific Electoral Systems

Chair – Bernie Grofman, University of California (Irvine)

• ‘Do Electoral Systems Really Matter or is Political Culture Everything? An Introductory Paper’, Jon Fraenkel, University of the South Pacific.  (download this paper)
• 'Parliaments and Plurality: The Constitutional Structures and Electoral Systems of Pacific Island States’, Stephen Levine and Nigel S. Roberts, Victoria University at Wellington, New Zealand. (download this paper)
•  ‘Duvenger’s Law and Party Systems in Third Wave Democracies: Insights from Papua New Guinea’, Henry Okole, University of Papua New Guinea.
• ‘Applying Typologies to Political Parties in the Pacific’, Roland Rich, Centre for Democratic Institutions, ANU.

11.40 Talk– ‘Representing the dispersed peoples from Nuclear-affected Rongelap Atoll’, Abacca Maddison, MP for Rongelap, Nitijela, Marshall Islands 

12.00 Lunch

1.00 Chiefs, Customary Authority & Political Power

Chair  - Andrew Ladley, Centre for Policy Studies, Victoria University

• ‘Democracy, Power, and Political Culture in the Pacific’, Stephanie Lawson, University of East Anglia, UK. (download this paper)
• ‘Sämoa’s Electoral System as it Operates on the Ground’, Asafou So’o, National University of Sämoa. (download this paper)
• ‘Customary Chiefs in Vanuatu’s Electoral Politics’, Don Patterson, Law School, University of the South Pacific, Vanuatu. (download this paper)
• ‘Men Who Lead, Men Who Serve, and Men Who Are Just Big: The Mystery of the Unwanted Politicians in Melanesia’, Ian Fraser USP School of Law.

2.45 Tea-break

3.15 Electoral Systems & Political Culture in Melanesia

Chair – Ben Reilly, APSEG, ANU

• ‘The Operation of the Single Non-Transferable Vote System in Vanuatu’, Howard Van Trease, University of Hawaii. (download this paper)
• ‘Unbounded Politics in the Melanesia; Assessing the Evidence in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands’, Jeanette Bolenga (with Jon Fraenkel), PIAS-DG, University of the South Pacific.
• ‘Social Unrest and Electoral Institutions in the Solomon Islands’, John Roughan, Solomon Islands Development Trust, Solomon Islands. (download this paper)
• ‘Political Instability, Westminster and Neo-Patrimonialism in Solomon Islands’, Ian Frazer, University of Otago, New Zealand.

Day Two - Sunday 11th July

10.30. Presidents, Premiers & Elections in Micronesia

Chair – Graham Hassall, PIAS-DG, University of the South Pacific, Fiji

• ‘Micronesian Political Structures and American Models: Lessons Taught and Lessons Learned’, Robert Underwood, University of Guam. (download this paper)
• ‘On Checks and Balances within the Federated States of Micronesian’s Presidential System’, Glen Petersen, Baruch College, New York. (download this paper)
• ‘The Borda Count in Kiribati & Nauru’, Ben Reilly, APSEG, Australian National University. (download this paper)
• Marshall Islands National Election 2003 — Trends and Implications, Giff Johnson, Editor, Marshall Islands Journal, Majuro, Marshall Islands. (download this paper)

12.20 Lunch

1.20 Talk - ‘A Comparative Summary of Election Administration in the Pacific’, Alistair Legge, (PIANZA & Australian Electoral Commission) & Andrew Ellis, (Institute for Democracy & Electoral Assistance). (download this paper) (download associate Excel file)

1.50 Why is PNG Politics so Competitive?

Chair – Andrew Ladley, Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington

• ‘Papua New Guinea’s Democracy’, Bill Standish, Australia National University. (download this paper)
• ‘ “Bigman” and “Cult” Legacies Continue: Villager Perceptions of Elections in the Markham Open’, Sam Kaima, University of Papua New Guinea. (download this paper)
• ‘Why Do Winning Candidates Win in Papua New Guinea Open Elections?  Looking at Data from Angoram’. Ron May, Australian National University.
• ‘A Westminster System of Government in a Melanesian Democracy: Papua New Guinea’, Henry Okole, University of Papua New Guinea. (download this paper)

3.40 Teabreak

4.10 What Drives Electoral Politics in Polynesia?

Chair - David Hegarty, State, Society & Governance in Melanesia Project, ANU

• ‘Political Culture, Representation & the Electoral System in the Cook Islands’ Ron Crocombe Raratonga, Cook Islands, & Jon Tikivanotau Jonassen, Brigham Young University, Hawaii (download this paper)
• ‘Constitutional Reform Proposals in Tonga’, Ian Campbell, University of Canterbury, Christchurch & University of the South Pacific. (download this paper)
• ‘Samoa’s Electoral System:  Cultural Propriety & Constitutional Anomalies’, Iutisone Salevao, APSEG, Australian National University. (download this paper)
• 'Elections and the Tongan Mind', Malakai Koloamatangi, National Centre for Research on Europe, Christchurch, New Zealand. (download this paper)

Monday 12th July

9am - Electoral Reform in Ethnically Divided Societies 

Chair –Ron Duncan, PIAS-DG, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji

• ‘From Eloi to Europe: Interactions with the ballot box in New Caledonia’, Nick Maclellan, Journalist & independent author. (download this paper)
• ‘Last General Elections in New Caledonia’, Frederick Angleviel, University New Caledonia.
• ‘Assessing the Impact of the Alternative Vote System in Fiji’, Bob Stockwell, De Anza College, Cupertino, California. (presented by Michael Malley, Australian Electoral Commission). (download this paper)
• ‘The Alternative Vote System in Fiji – Options for the Future’, David Arms, Citizen’s Constitutional Forum, Fiji. (download this paper)

11.30 Talk – ‘Activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’, Ian Harris, Clerk to the House of Representatives, Commonwealth of Australia, President of the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments and delegate from the Inter-parliamentary Union.

12.00 Lunch

1.00 Issues of Institutional Design & Electoral Refom

Chair – Stephanie Lawson, University of East Anglia, UK.

• 'A Theory of Atomistic Federalism for Melanesia’, Philip T. Powell, Indiana University Kelley School of Business (download this paper)
• ‘Would a Presidential System Provide More Effective Government for Melanesia?’, John Henderson, Canterbury University (presented by Malakai Koloamatangi). (download this paper)
• ‘Constraints and current visions for election of women in Solomon Islands’, Josephine Taekeni, Director of Vois Blong Mere, and Ian Scales, Consultant & Associate at SSGM, ANU. (download this paper)
• ‘Challenges of Strengthening the Political Party System in PNG’, Orovu Sepoe, University of Papua New Guinea. (download this paper)

3.00 Teabreak

3.30 Bernie Grofman, University of California, – Institutional Design in the Pacific Islands - Overview of Papers & Plans for Publication=

4.30 Closing Address