Le Queux, Stéphane, and Graff, Stéphanie (2013) Independence, dependencies and inter-dependencies: contextualizing labour voice in the French Pacific territories. In: UNSPECIFIED. From: Capacity Building in the Asia Pacific, 19 November 2013, Perth, WA, Australia. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This seminar aims at critically examining the nature and determinants of labour voices in the French Pacific Territories, i.e. New Caledonia and Polynesia. Although under the same colonial ruler, both regions have shaped their own path to autonomy in quite distinctive ways, between independence and dependencies and in the management of economic, geo-political and ethnic interdependences. We will thus insist on the need to provide a 'contextualised comparison': 'The Curse of Wealth' (New Caledonia) and 'The Cage of Beauty' (Polynesia). We will also discuss the complex duality of colonial and anti-colonial voices within the labour movement and further, in labour politics.

The seminar will finally focus on New Caledonia, including the legal and socio-political forces and narratives at play in the lead-up to next year 2014 referendum on the roadmap to decolonization. This is a highly contested terrain in a context where French Authorities have been engaging in a far ranging program of reconciliation and social partnership – the 'Common Destiny'. Special attention to industrial relations is particularly relevant for two reasons: first, historically, the split of Indigenous activists from the mainstream union gave the impetus to the formation of the Kanak People liberation movement; second, the issue of independence is quite a divisive issue between Indigenous and French led unions, in a context where industrial relations find themselves engulfed in the frame of social partnership.

Item ID:	30348
Item Type:	Conference Item (Presentation)
Keywords:	New Caledonia French Polynesia decolonization
Additional Information:	Seminar presentation to Curtin University
Date Deposited:	11 Mar 2014 02:24
FoR Codes:	16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1606 Political Science > 160603 Comparative Government and Politics @ 50% 15 COMMERCE, MANAGEMENT, TOURISM AND SERVICES > 1503 Business and Management > 150306 Industrial Relations @ 50%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970116 Expanding Knowledge through Studies of Human Society @ 50% 91 ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK > 9104 Management and Productivity > 910401 Industrial Relations @ 50%
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