Publication type: Early release

Title: A new frontier in digital activism: An exploration of digital feminism in Fiji

Author(s): Brimacombe, Tait; Kant, Romitesh; Finau, Glenn; Tarai, Jope and Titifanue, Jason

Excerpt:

Social media has become a crucial feature of the Pacific islands in the 21st century, providing people with the means to demand greater accountability and transparency and offering an alternative platform through which to engage in policy processes, dialogue, and debate. Increasing social media access and use has altered the existing media and communications landscape, with implications for mainstream media reporting, censorship, and citizen voice. This paper explores this phenomenon through an examination of the digital activism practices of a group of women’s rights activists in Fiji.

Date of publication: 2018

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Publication type: Early release

Title: Green transformations in Vietnam's energy sector

Author(s): Urban, Frauke; Siciliano, Giuseppina; Wallbott, Linda; Lederer, Markus and Nguyen, Anh Dang

Excerpt:

Vietnam has experienced rapid economic growth over the past few decades, as well as growing environmental pressures. The country is therefore pursuing strategies for green transformations, which are the processes of restructuring to bring economies and societies within the planetary boundaries. This article addresses the opportunities, barriers, and trade‐offs for green transformations in Vietnam’s energy sector and examines them from an energy justice perspective.

Date of publication: 2018

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Publication type: Early release

Title: Transformative mobilities in the Pacific: Promoting adaptation and development in a changing climate

Author(s): Farbotko, Carol; McMichael, Celia; Dun, Olivia; Ransan-Cooper, Hedda; McNamara, Karen E. and Thornton, Fanny

Excerpt:

Climate change is affecting Pacific life in significant and complex ways. Human mobility is shaped by climate change and is increasingly positioned by international agencies, policymakers, and governments as having an important role in both climate change adaptation and human development. We consider the potential for human mobility to promote adaptation and development among Pacific people in a changing climate.

Date of publication: 2018

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Publication type: Early release

Title: Solutions to poor service delivery in Papua New Guinea

Author(s): Duncan, Ron and Banga, Chris

Excerpt:

The paper discusses the problems that have plagued service delivery in Papua New Guinea—both over the long term and with the rollout of the District Development Authority Act of 2014.

Date of publication: 2018

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Publication type: Early release

Title: Organizational culture and public diplomacy in the digital sphere: The case of South Korea

Author(s): Robertson, Jeffrey

Excerpt:

Digital diplomacy is the latest technological advance to push change in diplomatic practice. It relates to the application of digital technologies, including information and communication technologies, software engineering and big data, and artificial intelligence, to the practice of diplomacy.

Positioned in the top ranks of connectivity, internet speed, smartphone ownership, and social media usage, South Korea should be a leader in the use of digital technologies in diplomatic practice. However, South Korea is not a leader; indeed, it has been left behind.

Date of publication: 2018

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Publication type: Early release

Title: What's in a term? “Green growth” and the “blue‐green economy” in the Pacific islands

Author(s): Dornan, Matthew; Morgan, Wesley; Cain, Tess Newton and Tarte, Sandra

Excerpt:

The term “green growth” and its sister concepts, “blue‐green growth,” the “green economy,” and the “blue‐green economy,” have gained considerable traction in the Pacific island region in a short space of time. Pacific island governments, regional organisations, and development agencies all use the terms, which originate outside of the Pacific. What (and who) has driven the adoption of green growth terminology within the region? How has its usage in the region mirrored international usage?

Date of publication: 2018

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Publication type: Early release

Title: The Complex Interdependence of China's Belt and Road Initiative in the Philippines

Author(s): Rabena, Aaron Jed

Excerpt:

Complex interdependence refers to the multiple channels of interaction and agenda in interstate relations, which involve domestic (public and private) stakeholders and nonmilitary issues. Since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) came into being, most analyses have largely focused on infrastructure development. The BRI not only has the potential to impact a host government’s socioeconomic agenda but also its overall bilateral relationship with China.

Date of publication: 2018

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Publication type: Early release

Title: Tourism in Pacific island countries: a status quo round‐up

Author(s): Cheer, Joseph M.; Pratt, Stephen; Tolkach, Denis; Bailey, Anthony; Taumoepeau, Semisi and Movono, Apisalome

Excerpt:

In the 21st century, Pacific island countries (PICs) continue to leverage for tourism the attributes that have imbued them, including appeals to their cultural, geographical, and climatic allure. However, the question raised more frequently by many is why despite the many decades of tourism across the region, development impacts from the sector remain largely muted. The key remit of this paper is to offer a status quo round‐up of tourism in PICs and to draw on key emergent themes that underlay the present context.

Date of publication: 2018

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