Pacific Islands Geopolitics and Fiji — Lorenz Gonschor

28. 5. 2024

This episode of The IR thinker examines the geopolitics of the Pacific Islands with Dr Lorenz Gonschor, focusing on Australia’s security role, the strategic interests of major powers such as the United States, China and the European Union (especially France), and the growing presence of emerging actors including India and Indonesia. The conversation explores the history and challenges of the Pacific Islands Forum, Russia’s limited involvement, economic diplomacy and aid dependence, the politics of climate change and energy security, and Fiji’s leadership and constraints in regional and global affairs.

Lorenz Gonschor

Dr Lorenz Gonschor is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Affairs in the School of Law and Social Sciences at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. His research covers historical and contemporary governance and politics in Oceania, with a particular interest in the evolution of Pacific regionalism since the nineteenth century. He is also actively engaged in debates on decolonisation in territories such as French Polynesia, Rapa Nui and Norfolk Island.

Content

00:00 - Introduction
01:57 - Australia’s Role in Security Dynamics
04:37 - Geography of the Pacific Islands
07:49 - Perception of Australia as a Western Power
08:54 - Strategic Interests of Major Powers (Australia, USA, China)
12:34 - The Complex Position of the European Union (France)
16:53 - Influence of Emerging Powers (India, Middle East, Azerbaijan, Indonesia)
21:56 - The Pacific Islands Forum: Overview and Functions
25:20 - Historical Challenges Faced by the Pacific Islands Forum
29:21 - Russian Involvement in the Pacific Region
36:05 - Challenges in Economic Diplomacy
39:52 - Dependency on Foreign Aid in the Pacific Islands
42:28 - Climate Change Debate: Rising Sea Levels and Extreme Weather
46:06 - Climate Change Activism in the Pacific Islands
47:40 - Energy Security Concerns
49:51 - Fiji’s Leadership Role in the Pacific
54:03 - Fiji’s Challenges in International Relations
59:23 - Local Interest in Studying Political Science