The political affordances of the ‘coconut wireless’: Rotumans on social media in the 2018 Fiji elections

Rufino Varea; Jason Titifanue; Romitesh Kant; Renata Varea

doi:10.24135/pjr.v26i2.1130

Rufino Robert Varea The University of the South Pacific
Jason Titifanue The University of the South Pacific; La Trobe University
Romitesh Kant Institute of Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University
Renata Varea The University of the South Pacific

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24135/pjr.v26i2.1130

Keywords: Fiji, digital diaspora, digital divide, elections, ethnography, freedom of expression, Indigenous, Rotuma, social media

Abstract

As a unique group of people, Rotumans make up less than two percent of Fiji’s population, and as a minority Indigenous ethnic group in Fiji, they have remained relatively hidden and silent in political affairs. Outmigration from the island has led to more than 80 percent of Rotumans residing outside of Rotuma. In recent times, the Rotuman diaspora has heavily relied on the use of ICTs and new media technologies as crucial tools for the reinvigoration of Rotuma’s culture. This in itself poses an intriguing paradox as internet connectivity on Rotuma is quite limited. However, social media platforms have been increasingly used by Rotumans outside of Rotuma, and have enabled increased connectivity and greater dissemination of information among the Rotuman diaspora. Recently, the primary purpose of such social media groups has evolved from merely being a tool for rekindling familial ties, to being a platform for political discourse on Rotuman issues. In essence, despite the scattered nature of the Rotuman population, digital technologies are offering Rotumans the affordance of being able to inform and educate themselves and their networks on political issues of Rotuman interest. By employing ethnography and netnography principles and through in-person and online engagement with Rotumans within and outside of Rotuma, this article examines the affordances that digital technologies offer Rotumans concerning national political discourse. This is carried out with a specific focus on the 2018 general elections in Fiji.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biographies

Rufino Robert Varea, The University of the South Pacific

Mr. Rufino Robert Varea is a PhD candidate with the University of the South Pacifics School of Marine Studies

Jason Titifanue, The University of the South Pacific; La Trobe University

Jason Titifanue is an assistant lecturer at the School of Government, Development and International Affairs, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji; a Development Leadership Programme (DLP) research associate; and an honorary research associate at the Institute of Human Security and Social Change (IHSSC), La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

Romitesh Kant, Institute of Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University

Romitesh Kant is an honorary research associate at the Institute of Human Security and Social Change (IHSSC), La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, and a Development Leadership Programme (DLP) research associate.

Renata Varea, The University of the South Pacific

Renata Varea is a Research Associate with the University of the South Pacifics School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment.

References

Anderson, K. J. (2007). From marginalization to mainstream? Rotuma and the 2006 election. In J. Fraenkel & S. Firth (Eds.), From election to coup in Fiji (pp. 185-203): Canberra, ACT: Australian National University (ANU) Press.

Biggs, B. (1965). Direct and indirect inheritance in Rotuman. Lingua, 14, 383-415. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3841(65)90053-7

Bolatiki, M. (2018, 20 April). MV Brianna to take rations to Rotuma. Fiji Sun. Retrieved from https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/04/20/mv-brianna-to-take-rations-to-rotuma/

Chand, P. (2017, July 30). Implications of the draft Rotuma bills: A question of identity. Islands Business.

Clark, C. (2005). The Rotuma website: Transnational relations and the articulation of cultural identity. Unpublished MA thesis, the University of British Columbia, Canada.

Coka, A. (2014a, May 22). $15 million upgrade for Rotuma airport. FBC News. Retrieved from https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/15-million-upgrade-for-rotuma-airport/

Coka, A. (2014b, May 21). Developments on Rotuma widely welcomed. FBC News. Retrieved from https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/developments-on-rotuma-widely-welcomed/

Coka, A. (2014c, May 27). PM directs WAF to waive bills in Rotuma. FBC News. Retrieved from https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/pm-directs-waf-to-waive-bills-in-rotuma/

Coka, A. (2014d, June 8). Rotuma to improve trade with Tuvalu. FBC News. Retrieved from https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/rotuma-to-improve-trade-with-tuvalu/

Evans, S. K., Pearce, K. E., Vitak, J., & Treem, J. W. (2016). Explicating affordances: A conceptual framework for understanding affordances in communication research. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 22(1), 35-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12180

Fiji Bureau of Statistics. (2007). Rotuma Census of Population. Retrieved from http://www.statsfiji.gov.fj/index.php/component/content/article/9-social-statistics/social-general/113-population-and-demography21

Fiji Bureau of Statistics. (2018). 2017 Population and Housing Census Release 1: Age, Sex, Geography and Economic Activity. Suva, Fiji: Fiji Bureau of Statistics.

FijiFirst Party. (2018). FijiFirst manifesto 2018. Fiji: FijiFirst Party.

Fiji Sun. (2014, July 13). Government talks Rotuma-Tuvalu trade. Retrieved from https://fijisun.com.fj/2014/07/13/government-talks-rotuma-tuvalu-trade/

Fiji Sun. (2018, October 30). $12.8 million runway for Rotuma opened. Retrieved from https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/10/30/12-8-million-runway-for-rotuma-opened/

Fiji Village. (2014, January 24). $10m renewable energy project to be launched soon. Retrieved from https://fijivillage.com/news/10M-renewable-energy-project-to-be-launched-soon-2k9rs5/

Fiji Village. (2018). Fiji general elections 2018Results. Retrieved from http://fijivillage.com/election-2018-results/

Flanders Marine Institute. (2018). The intersect of the Exclusive Economic Zones and IHO sea areas. Retrieved from http://www.marineregions.org/

Genzuk, M. (2003). A synthesis of ethnographic research. Occasional Papers Series. Center for Multilingual, Multicultural Research (Eds.). Center for Multilingual, Multicultural Research, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California. Los Angeles, 1-10.

Ghai, Y., & Cottrell, J. (2008). A tale of three constitutions: Ethnicity and politics in Fiji. In S. Choudhry (Ed.), Constitutional design for divided societies: Integration or accommodation? (pp. 287–315). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Ginsburg, F. (1997). From little things, big things grow: Indigenous media and cultural activism. In D. Fox & O. Starn (Eds.), Between resistance and revolution: Cultural politics and social protest between resistance and revolution (pp. 118-144). New Brunswick, NB: Rutgers University Press.

Ginsburg, F. (2008). Rethinking the digital age. In P. W. M. Stewart (Ed.), Global indigenous media: Cultures, poetics, and politics. (pp. 287). Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Howard, A. (1970). Learning to be Rotuman: Enculturation in the South Pacific. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Howard, A., & Rensel, J. (2007). Island legacy: A history of the Rotuman people. Oxford, UK: Trafford Publishing.

Inia, E. K. M. (1998). Fäeag 'Es Fuaga: Rotuman Proverbs. Suva, Fiji: Institute of Pacific Studies, The University of the South Pacific.

Irava, I. (1991). The emigration of Rotumans to Fiji. In C. Plant (Ed.), Rotuma (pp. 153-160). Suva, Fiji: Institute of Pacific Students, The University of the South Pacific.

Kant, R. (2017). Casting a blind-eye: Is Fiji’s 2013 ‘ethnically-blind’ constitution a path to democratic stability? Journal of South Pacific Law, 2017, 3-36.

Kant, R. (2018). Constitutional re-design for democratic stability in a divided society: A Fiji case study. Unpublished Master of Arts thesis, The University of the South Pacific, Suva.

Kant, R., & Rakuita, E. (2014). Public participation & constitution-making in Fiji: A critique of the 2012 constitution-making process. Ssgm Discussion Paper, 2014 (6).

Khalidi, R. (1997). Palestinian identity: The construction of modern national consciousness. New York, NY: Columbia University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7312/khal92238

Kozinets, R. V. (2010). Netnography: Doing ethnographic research online. London, UK: Sage Publications.

Moser, R. G. (2008). Electoral systems and the representation of ethnic minorities: Evidence from Russia. Comparative Politics, 40(3), 273-292. doi:10.2307/20434082 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/20434082

Mpofu, S. (2013). Social media and the politics of ethnicity in Zimbabwe. Ecquid Novi: African Journalism Studies, 34(1), 115-122. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02560054.2013.767432

Nasiko, R. (2015, April 25). Roadworks on island. The Fiji Times. Retrieved from https://www.dd.mobile.fijitimes.com.fj/roadworks-on-island/

National Federation Party. (2018). Manifesto of the National Federation Party: 2018 general elections. Suva, Fiji: National Federation Party.

QGIS Development Team. (2019). QGIS Geographic Information System. Retrieved from http://qgis.osgeo.org

Rotuma Act 1958 (Cap. 122) (Rotuma Act)

Sackett, L.-A., Kant, R., & Titifanue, J. (2018). The Rotuma bill no. 6 of 2015: What is at stake for Rotuma? SGDIA Working Paper Series, 4. Retrieved from https://www.usp.ac.fj/fileadmin/files/faculties/business/SGDIA/SGDIA_Working_Paper_Series_-_No.4_-_Final.pdf

Sreberny-Mohammadi, A., & Mohammadi, A. (1994). Small media, big revolution: Communication, culture and the Iranian revolution (NED - New edition ed.). Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.

The Fiji Times. (2014, February 1). Dredging to improve services. Retrieved from https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/dredging-to-improve-services/

The Fiji Times. (2017, January 20). Bills Rebuff. Retrieved from https://www.fijitimes.com/bills-rebuff/

The Fiji Government. (2014a, May 15). New hospital for Rotuma. The Fijian Government Media Release. Retrieved from https://www.fiji.gov.fj/Media-Centre/News/NEW-HOSPITAL-FOR-ROTUMA?rss=news

The Fiji Government. (2014b, May 16). Road works to begin around Rotuma. The Fijian Government Media Release. Retrieved from https://www.fiji.gov.fj/Media-Centre/News/ROAD-WORKS-TO-BEGIN-AROUND-ROTUMA

Titifanue, J., Varea, R. R., Varea, R., Kant, R., & Finau, G. (2018). Digital diaspora, reinvigorating indigenous identity and online activism: Social media and the reorientation of Rotuman identity. Media International Australia, 169(1), 32-42. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1329878x18803377 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1329878X18803377

Valenzuela, S., Arriagada, A., & Scherman, A. (2014). Facebook, Twitter, and youth engagement: A quasi-experimental study of social media use and protest behavior using propensity score matching. International Journal of Communication, 8, 2046-2070.

Vasil, R. K. (1972). Communalism and constitution-making in Fiji. Pacific Affairs, 45(1), 21-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2755259