The book—edited by Victoria University of Wellington Professor of Political Science Stephen Levine—includes contributions from a number of Pacific scholars from across the region.
It covers the regions of Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, and all Pacific countries, irrespective of their size or political status.
The contents mirror the diversity of the Pacific, with chapters about an array of island nations whose politics receive relatively little media or scholarly attention.
Pacific Waysoffers information about the political leadership and systems of government in countries and territories ranging from larger nations, such as Australia and Papua New Guinea, through to the tiny island territories of Pitcairn, Rapa Nui/Easter Island and Tokelau.
Originally published in 2009, this second edition of Pacific Ways has been written by an almost entirely new team of authors, offering their own perspectives on the Pacific’s problems and prospects. This new edition also adds two further chapters, with contributions about West Papua and East Timor/Timor-Leste bringing the total number of countries and territories covered to 27.
Pacific Ways includes a specially commissioned colour map of the entire Pacific Islands region, providing a visual reference point for each of the states and territories.
Professor Levine says Pacific Ways has proven useful to Pacific policy-makers, business people, journalists and others with professional interests in the island states and territories of the Pacific. The book has also served as a text and as a resource for lecturers and students specialising in Pacific Islands affairs.
He says the aim of the new edition of Pacific Ways is to provide a clear, thoughtful, up-to-date account of the political, historical and institutional environment in which decision-making takes place, whether in independent countries or in those affiliated to the United States, France, New Zealand, Indonesia or Chile.
Contributors: Peter Clegg, Jack Corbett, Jon Fraenkel, Lorenz Gonschor, Cheryl Hunter, Iati Iati, Keli Kalolo, David Kupferman, Marc Lanteigne, Michael Leach, Hapakuke Pierre Leleivai, Stephen Levine, Kelly Marsh, Nic Maclellan, Gordon Nanau, Vergil Narakobi, Robert Norton, Glenn Petersen, Gregory B. Poling, Zag Puas, Max Quanchi, Frank Quimby, Steven Ratuva, Nigel S. Roberts, J. Robert Shaffer, Tyrone Taitano, Salote Talagi, Takuia Uakeia, Wouter Veenendaal, Phillipa Webb, Forrest Wade Young
Pacific Ways: Government and Politics in the Pacific Islands is available in bookshops and can also be ordered from: