The United States and the Pacific Islands

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Although the Pacific islands were front-page news during the 1941-1945 Pacific War, today they are seldom in the American consciousness - except as a perception of Micheneresque tropical paradises. But the islands - 10,000 strong and scattered over nearly one-fifth of the earth's surface - still straddle or remain close to the sea and air lanes that link the United States with Australia and Asia, and carry nearly one-half of US foreign trade. New political interests also exist with the recent emergence of a new panoply of independent Pacific island states, extension of US sovereignty to other Pacific islands, and new defence responsibilities in several states linked to the United States by "free association". John C. Dorrance offers an assessment of US interests in, and policy toward, a poorly understood region. The islands, highly aid dependent and uniquely vulnerable to external influences, have experienced insurrections, military coups, secessionist rebellion, political assassinations, Soviet in-roads, and even Libyan mischief-making. Ethnic conflict and developmental problems also threaten democratic institutions and the region's stability. Dorrance explores the regional policy environment and the issues that face the United States. His book should be of value to scholars and especially to policy-makers and practitioners.

Reviews

"A valuable book for scholar and policy practitioner alike, John Dorrance brings to bear, on a too often neglected area of American interest, the policy insights of a long and distinguished Foreign Service career as well as the sophisticated area knowledge and understanding of the regional specialist. His recommendations for more attentive and effective policies are worth careful study."-Evelyn Colbert Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
"Among Americans, John Dorrance's knowledge of the South Pacific was unsurpassed. In this monograph, completed on the eve of his untimely death, he provides a thorough, scrupulously objective survey of the main trends among the newly independent island states of the region and the recent policies directed toward them by the United States as well as by other major nations. His specific recommendations for future U.S. policies warrant serious consideration. This work is the fitting legacy of a dedicated public servant."- Robert A. Scalapino Robson Research Professor of Government Emeritus University of California at Berkeley

Author Bio

JOHN C. DORRANCE, an independent foreign affairs consultant and analyst until his death in 1991, specialized in the affairs of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands during much of his career in the U.S. Foreign Service (1956-1989). Assignments abroad included Australia, Fiji, Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea. Assignments in the Department of State involved U.S. policy planning, international security issues, UN and East Asian affairs, the Pacific islands, Australia, and New Zealand. In 1988-1989 he was a senior fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies of the National Defense University, Washington, D.C. Mr. Dorrance authored several books and numerous journal articles on U.S. interests and policies in the Pacific area.