Speaking to Power: Gender and Politics in the Western Pacific

by Lynn Wilson

Overview

For nearly fifty years, US government officials have identified Belau, in western Micronesia, as a key strategic site and have implemented administrative policies designed to maintain permanent access to Belau's land, reefs and waters for military purposes. Elder women placed themselves at the forefront of opposition to these policies, and, as part of oppositional efforts, successfully entered international political arenas. Speaking to Power moves beyond examining the impact of militarism and colonial administrative policy in Belau and draws on feminist poststructural analysis to explore the fluidity of contests in constructions of "gender," "politics," and "tradition" during US administration in Belau.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781000143348
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/11/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	230
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Lynn Wilson

Table of Contents

FIGURES -- PREFACE -- 1. INTRODUCTION -- Placing the Research -- Explaning Belau -- Entering Belau -- Writing the Text -- 2. LOCATING BELAU -- Developing Colonial Interests -- Strategic Trust and Solomon Strategies -- Belau’s Constitution and Proposals for Free Association -- 3. NOTIONS OF POWER -- Theoretical Shifts -- Poststructural and Feminist Analytics -- Foucault and Power -- Constructing the Text -- 4. FAMILY AND CLAN -- Representing Gabriela -- Land Relations -- Locating Olngebang -- Genealogy and Stories of Olngebang -- Telling the Stories -- 5. FOOD AND MONEY -- Defining Responsibilities -- Negotiating Relations -- Expanding Obligations and Clan Fights -- 6. CLUBS, ELECTIONS, AND COMPACTS -- Forming Clubs -- Shaping Elections -- Confronting Compacts -- Women and Politics -- 7. POSTPONING CONCLUSION -- Appendix A: Palauan Pronunciation -- Appendix B: Glossary of Palauan Terms -- NOTES -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX.