title: The Concept of Development in Ulawa in Solomon Islands and its Implications for National Development Policy and Planning

authors: Rohorua, Frederick Isom

subjects: Solomon Islands

abstract: 'Social development' and 'economic development' are complex concepts, concepts that may be interpreted very differently in different contexts and at different times.  Not only may the processes involved be different in different contexts, so too may be the criteria by which success is judged.  It is argued here that successive Solomon Islands governments have striven for social and economic development without taking full account of the real nature of Solomon Islands society.  What is needed is national development policy, planning and implementation that arise out of, and take fully into account, the historical, geographic and cultural context of Solomon Islands. 

On the whole, the socio-economic structure of Solomon Islands society is currently underpinned by a tri-partite hierarchy in which, for the majority of Solomon Islanders, kastom (traditional beliefs and practices) and church (the beliefs and practices endorsed by the church) take precedence over the state as legitimate forms of authority.  This inevitably poses problems for state-led development.  If socio-economic development activities are to be successful in achieving a better quality of life for all Solomon Islanders, including those who live in rural areas, they must take full account of the role of kastom and church in the lives of the people.  This must include an understanding of the differing concepts of development of people in different areas of the country such as those of Ulawa islanders that are discussed here.  

The thesis begins with an introduction to the research (Chapter 1) in which the theoretical framework is located broadly within the postmodern paradigm.  In Chapter 2 the essentially qualitative and interpretive nature of the methodology is outlined and explained.  Chapter 3 provides a critical review of international development literature in which it is argued that official definitions and descriptions of development are based on production and deficit models.  The need to accommodate an indigenous and organic concept of development, one that takes account of the diversity of human experience, is stressed.  Chapter 4 provides an outline of Solomon Islands society. Here, the historical narrative is complemented by three metaphors - 'island', wantok and betelnut - which serve to reinforce and explain the nature of Solomon Islands society and the ways in which that society has been shaped by historical processes. Chapter 5 is devoted to a discussion of modern development activity in Solomon Islands, the main focus being on the period immediately preceding and following independence.  Chapter 6 explores, with particular reference to Ulawa Island, indigenous concepts of development and the impact of national development activities on rural-dwelling islanders. It also engages the issue of state reform, proposing a model based on a two tier system, with central government in its current form dealing directly with the people at constituency rather than provincial level.  Finally, Chapter 7 summarizes the main conclusions reached. It is noted that the failure of both pre- and post-independence governments to take full account of the nature of Solomon Islands society has been a major factor in the lack of effective development in the islands.

text: The Concept of Development in Ulawa in Solomon Islands and its Implications for National Development Policy and Planning 'Social development' and 'economic development' are complex concepts, concepts that may be interpreted very differently in different contexts and at different times.  Not only may the processes involved be different in different contexts, so too may be the criteria by which success is judged.  It is argued here that successive Solomon Islands governments have striven for social and economic development without taking full account of the real nature of Solomon Islands society.  What is needed is national development policy, planning and implementation that arise out of, and take fully into account, the historical, geographic and cultural context of Solomon Islands. 

On the whole, the socio-economic structure of Solomon Islands society is currently underpinned by a tri-partite hierarchy in which, for the majority of Solomon Islanders, kastom (traditional beliefs and practices) and church (the beliefs and practices endorsed by the church) take precedence over the state as legitimate forms of authority.  This inevitably poses problems for state-led development.  If socio-economic development activities are to be successful in achieving a better quality of life for all Solomon Islanders, including those who live in rural areas, they must take full account of the role of kastom and church in the lives of the people.  This must include an understanding of the differing concepts of development of people in different areas of the country such as those of Ulawa islanders that are discussed here.  

The thesis begins with an introduction to the research (Chapter 1) in which the theoretical framework is located broadly within the postmodern paradigm.  In Chapter 2 the essentially qualitative and interpretive nature of the methodology is outlined and explained.  Chapter 3 provides a critical review of international development literature in which it is argued that official definitions and descriptions of development are based on production and deficit models.  The need to accommodate an indigenous and organic concept of development, one that takes account of the diversity of human experience, is stressed.  Chapter 4 provides an outline of Solomon Islands society. Here, the historical narrative is complemented by three metaphors - 'island', wantok and betelnut - which serve to reinforce and explain the nature of Solomon Islands society and the ways in which that society has been shaped by historical processes. Chapter 5 is devoted to a discussion of modern development activity in Solomon Islands, the main focus being on the period immediately preceding and following independence.  Chapter 6 explores, with particular reference to Ulawa Island, indigenous concepts of development and the impact of national development activities on rural-dwelling islanders. It also engages the issue of state reform, proposing a model based on a two tier system, with central government in its current form dealing directly with the people at constituency rather than provincial level.  Finally, Chapter 7 summarizes the main conclusions reached. It is noted that the failure of both pre- and post-independence governments to take full account of the nature of Solomon Islands society has been a major factor in the lack of effective development in the islands.

year: 2007

title: 'Being' an educational leader in Choiseul Province in the Solomon Islands:  A case study of the context of leadership for principals and deputy principals.

authors: Sisiolo, John Lenga

subjects: Choiseul Province

abstract: The recent decentralisation of authority to the community high schools highlights the changing nature and role of school leadership in the Solomon Islands.  This study explores the context of school leadership for principals and deputy principals in the community high schools from the leader's perspectives. More specifically, what is it like 'being' an educational leader in the community high schools in the Choiseul province. This study attempts to describe the context of leadership using the leader's accounts of being in this role before and during their current school leadership position. 
This study was conducted as qualitative research and used a case study research approach. The school leaders of six community high schools of Choiseul province were participants in this study. Eleven school leaders, five principals and six deputy principals, took part in semi-structured interviews about the nature of their leadership context. The research question that acted as a guide to these interviews was:
What is it like 'being' a school leader in a Community High School in the Choiseul province?
Through semi-structured interviews with each participant, and the documents that were related to the school leader's position and role, the findings of this research raise a number of issues for those in leadership. This includes the impact of the remoteness and isolation that is seen as a major impediment to leadership preparation and ongoing professional development. The findings also showed that school leaders typically experienced an appointments procedure which was influenced by the local community. Since the community high schools were still being physically developed, the school's physical development was seen as a priority when it comes to the appointment. The research findings provide the basis for establishing policies and practices that might support and enable current and future school leaders in Choiseul in the future.

text: 'Being' an educational leader in Choiseul Province in the Solomon Islands:  A case study of the context of leadership for principals and deputy principals. The recent decentralisation of authority to the community high schools highlights the changing nature and role of school leadership in the Solomon Islands.  This study explores the context of school leadership for principals and deputy principals in the community high schools from the leader's perspectives. More specifically, what is it like 'being' an educational leader in the community high schools in the Choiseul province. This study attempts to describe the context of leadership using the leader's accounts of being in this role before and during their current school leadership position. 
This study was conducted as qualitative research and used a case study research approach. The school leaders of six community high schools of Choiseul province were participants in this study. Eleven school leaders, five principals and six deputy principals, took part in semi-structured interviews about the nature of their leadership context. The research question that acted as a guide to these interviews was:
What is it like 'being' a school leader in a Community High School in the Choiseul province?
Through semi-structured interviews with each participant, and the documents that were related to the school leader's position and role, the findings of this research raise a number of issues for those in leadership. This includes the impact of the remoteness and isolation that is seen as a major impediment to leadership preparation and ongoing professional development. The findings also showed that school leaders typically experienced an appointments procedure which was influenced by the local community. Since the community high schools were still being physically developed, the school's physical development was seen as a priority when it comes to the appointment. The research findings provide the basis for establishing policies and practices that might support and enable current and future school leaders in Choiseul in the future.

year: 2010

title: Culture and collaborative conservation? Inter-cultural difference and the Maungatautari Project

authors: Harms, Matthew

subjects: Inter-cultural navigation

abstract: This thesis situates and examines the role of sociocultural difference and biculturalism in the Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain project, a multi-stakeholder community-based biodiversity conservation project in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island. In the project, Mana Whenua (local indigenous Māori groups) and Pākehā (New Zealanders of British and European descent) from the area endeavour to interact and partner in the non-profit Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust (MEIT) as its primary stakeholder groups. Utilizing sociocultural anthropology, three years of participant observation, participant interviews, fieldwork data and contextualizing history, the role of culture and issues of biculturalism and partnership are examined in relation to the respective sociocultural backgrounds and identity of project participants. Findings indicate that sociocultural difference in the form of varying beliefs, values, attitudes, practices and protocol, and identity/cultural politics have led to dissonance and strained stakeholder interrelations that negatively affected the project. In some instances, a post-colonial ‘neo-paternalism’ marginalised local Māori cultural input and needs in the project. At other times project participants successfully bridged inter-cultural differences. In these occurrences they created a collaborative, complementary, bicultural partnership which valued, sought to understand, and incorporated differing sociocultural aspects, advancing project goals. Further analysis identified an ongoing risk of future multi-stakeholder dissonance relative to culturally-derived disparate views on such issues as cultural harvesting, species reintroductions and care, ecotourism, development on the mountain, and biodiversity research. Normative solutions are identified which can aid Maungatautari stakeholders and other culturally-heterogeneous multi-stakeholder conservation groups work toward and produce inclusive, inter-cultural partnership.

text: Culture and collaborative conservation? Inter-cultural difference and the Maungatautari Project This thesis situates and examines the role of sociocultural difference and biculturalism in the Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain project, a multi-stakeholder community-based biodiversity conservation project in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island. In the project, Mana Whenua (local indigenous Māori groups) and Pākehā (New Zealanders of British and European descent) from the area endeavour to interact and partner in the non-profit Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust (MEIT) as its primary stakeholder groups. Utilizing sociocultural anthropology, three years of participant observation, participant interviews, fieldwork data and contextualizing history, the role of culture and issues of biculturalism and partnership are examined in relation to the respective sociocultural backgrounds and identity of project participants. Findings indicate that sociocultural difference in the form of varying beliefs, values, attitudes, practices and protocol, and identity/cultural politics have led to dissonance and strained stakeholder interrelations that negatively affected the project. In some instances, a post-colonial ‘neo-paternalism’ marginalised local Māori cultural input and needs in the project. At other times project participants successfully bridged inter-cultural differences. In these occurrences they created a collaborative, complementary, bicultural partnership which valued, sought to understand, and incorporated differing sociocultural aspects, advancing project goals. Further analysis identified an ongoing risk of future multi-stakeholder dissonance relative to culturally-derived disparate views on such issues as cultural harvesting, species reintroductions and care, ecotourism, development on the mountain, and biodiversity research. Normative solutions are identified which can aid Maungatautari stakeholders and other culturally-heterogeneous multi-stakeholder conservation groups work toward and produce inclusive, inter-cultural partnership.

year: 2018