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    Conflicting power paradigms in Samoa's "traditional democracy" : from tension to a process of harmonisation? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2020) La'alaai-Tausa, Christina
    This research argues that the tension evident between western democracy and Samoa’s traditional leadership of Fa’amatai has led to a power struggle due to the inability of the government to offer thorough civic education through dialectical exchange, proper consultation, discussion and information sharing with village council leaders and their members. It also argues that Fa’amatai are being disadvantaged as the government and the democratic system is able to manipulate cultural practices and protocols to suit their political needs, whereas village councils are not recognized or acknowledged by the democratic system (particularly the courts), despite cultural guidelines and village laws providing stability for communities and the country. In addition, it claims that, despite western academics’ arguments that Samoa’s traditional system is a barrier to a fully-fledged democracy, Samoa’s Fa’amatai in theory and practice in fact proves to be more democratic than the democratic status quo. Furthermore, this study suggests that both systems can be harmonized through the process of ‘Architectonics’, whereby the excellence of democracy depends on the excellence of Fa’amatai and vice versa. In doing so, it reveals that Samoa’s political status is that of a “traditional democracy”, a blend of democratic and Samoan traditional intricacies which need each other to ensure their relevancy, legitimacy and longevity within Samoan society. This study makes a contribution to the field of Pacific politics. In particular- it speaks to the democratization paradigm that continues to occupy the thinking of many scholars and the work of many national, regional and international agencies. The study concerns the state of Samoa’s democracy and its relevance in traditional society (and vice versa) and investigates how it could be improved - potentially resolving some of the contradictions and barriers to a democratic model that is Samoan, sustainable and equitable. Moreover, the choice of using Samoa as a case study may also perhaps inform the processes of other neighbouring Pacific countries similarly experiencing a tension between the western notion and system of democracy and that of traditional leadership within local Society
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    Paradigm shifts in ancient kingship traditions in Tonga : a historical and anthropological examination of political practices and changes throughout the bipartite and tripartite systems of government 1550-1875 AD : the case of Hau : a thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Anthropology at Massey University (Albany Campus – Auckland) New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Ilaiu, Siaosi Leini
    This study of traditional Tongan kingship system focuses on the emergence of the hau authority and redesigned of the political history of this ancient society. The main purpose is to take a close look at key elements such as governorship, secular ruler, absolute sovereign, victor, champion or military skills etc, which propounded by competing views that have contributed or responsible for clouding the role and responsibilities of the hau in relation to the rise of the second and third divine dynasties of the Tu’i Ha’atakalaua and the Tu’i Kanokupolu. It is central to this work to rethink the information transmitted by oral tradition by assessing what is said about the origin and designation of the hau office. The purpose therefore is primarily to interpret in light of new evidence the positions of both oral tradition and academic revisionists, and to unveil some material that seems to be missing from the dialogue thus far on the hau. This work aims at restoring some sense of historicity to the understanding of traditional kingship in pre-European Tonga. The study examines the creation of the secular office of the hau, why there was the need to implement such a political development, and the recent debate amongst historians and anthropologists on the issue of ‘what is hau’. The debate started from a challenge on the orthodox version that stated the hau was a secular office created by the TT to take over the executive responsibility in about 1350 AD. A leading Pacific historian Niel Gunson argues that there was a system existed way before this date in which the TT title was open for challenge as a rule by a member of his peers. This idea was disputed in 1982 by another Pacific historian Ian Campbell who argues that there was no set rule for such challenge, it was instead a matter of having the means and opportunity. The study responds to the debate by arguing that there were paradigm shifts in the political history of Tonga that historians and anthropologists have been overlooking and as a consequence have misinterpreted, prolonging the dialogue needlessly. In the light of some new findings, I identify three-paradigm shifts that took place between 1350 AD and 1875 AD. It is the dynamism within this 500-year period that this thesis strives to resuscitate.