Experiential Travel Seminar to Fiji: Ethnic Reconciliation

May 13-June 2, 2004

Joshua Searle-White

Department of Psychology

Allegheny College

814/332-2706

jsearle@allegheny.edu

Overview:

The purpose of this Travel Seminar is to obtain an in-depth experiential investigation of ethnic reconciliation efforts in Fiji. Over the past 20 years, Fiji has been plagued by divisions between the ethnic Fijian and Indo-Fijian communities. These divisions have resulted in two coups, several riots, and substantial economic hardship for large segments of the population. How can these groups live together peacefully? That is the main question we will be asking.

To answer that question, we will learn about Indo-Fijian and Fijian culture, experience daily lives of members of both groups, and observe the programs through which the Fijian government, religious groups, and non-governmental organizations are trying to ease ethnic tensions and create a unified “Fijian” national identity. In preparation for our trip, we will use readings, films, and classroom discussions to help us understand the historical, economic, religious, cultural, and social contexts in which this conflict has taken place. While we are in Fiji, interviews with ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians directly affected by the coups and riots of recent years will help to give us an in-depth understanding of the psychological, political, economic, and cultural issues that must be addressed in order to help ease tensions in Fiji.

On a more personal level, I hope that there is a lot you will gain from this course. Hopefully, your experience will help you learn to see the world through others’ eyes, to broaden your understanding of the ways that we human beings create and resolve conflict, and to learn how communication between people in different cultures and contexts can be achieved. We will learn a great deal about ourselves on this trip, and particularly about the filters that we look at the world through. We will need a good deal of sensitivity also – to each other and to the people there. This course is about reconciliation, after all, so we have the opportunity to deal effectively with any conflicts or difficulties that may arise in the group. And finally, we will also need to be adventurous, since traveling in Fiji can be unpredictable. These are skills and qualities that will serve us all well no matter where we go in the future.

Reading list:

There is one required book, which I will provide for you:

Miller, K., Jones, R., & Pinheiro, L. (2003). Fiji (6^th ed.). Footscray, Australia: Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd.

In addition, there is a packet of supplementary readings that I will provide also. Here is what is included:

 Ali, A. (1979). Indians in Fiji: An interpretation. In Subramani (ed.), The Indo-Fijian experience (pp. 3-25).  St. Lucia, Australia: University of Queensland Press

Columban Fathers (2002). [Entire issue] 50 in Fiji: Columbans celebrate anniversary in the South Pacific. [I will distribute this separately.]

Coulter, J. W. (1942). Fiji: Little India of the Pacific. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. [pp. 19-27 and 79-95]

Forsyth, D. R. (1999). Group dynamics (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole-Wadsworth Publishing Company. [pp. 376-393]

Hoare, F. (undated). Building a culture of peace in Fiji. Unpublished manuscript.

Hoare, F. (undated). The challenge of reconciliation in Fiji. Unpublished manuscript.

Lal, B. V. (1992). Broken waves: A history of the Fiji Islands in the twentieth century. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. [pp. 3-16]

Searle-White, J. (2001). The psychology of nationalism. New York: Palgrave. [pp. 101-118]

Stein, J. G. (1996). Image, identity, and conflict resolution. In C. E. Crocker, F. O. Hampson, & P. Aall (Eds.), Managing global chaos (pp. 93-111). Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press.

Sutherland, W., & Robertson, R. (2001). Government by the gun: The unfinished business of Fiji’s 2000 coup. Annandale, NSW, Australia: Pluto Press Australia. [pp. 50-74]

Toren, C. The drinker as chief or rebel: Kava and alcohol in Fiji. In M. McDonald (ed.), Gender, drink and drugs (pp. 153-173). Providence, RI: Berg Publishers.

Williams, T., & Calvert, J. (1859). Fiji and the Fijians. New York: Appleton & Company. [Chapter 2]

Please read all of these readings before the first day of class (May 13^th).

Assignments and grading:

There will be one exam, one presentation, and one paper required as part of the seminar, plus a journal that you will keep throughout the trip:

• Exam: The exam will be during the first discussion day, May 13^th, and will cover basic Fijian and Indo-Fijian history and culture. I will give you a study guide in advance to let you know what I want you to know before we go. There will be no mystery about this – there are simply some basic facts I want you to know, and if you learn them, you’ll do great on the exam.
• Expert presentation. Each student will the group’s “expert” on one particular topic. At some point, either here or in Fiji, you will make a 10- to 15-minute presentation on that topic, and in addition, when we need to know something about that issue, you will be the one we will ask. Here are the topics:

1. Fijian Methodism (its character, its beliefs, and its role in society)
2. Fijian Hinduism, including how to be a guest in a temple
3. The Native Land Trust Board (particularly its relevance to the current conflict)
4. Traditional Fijian village life, including how to be a guest in a Fijian village
5. Early Fijian history (particularly the cession of Fiji to the British Empire)
6. The sugar industry (especially in the Lautoka area)
7. Pronunciation of Fijian names & places
8. History of Bau (particularly in pre-colonial times)
9. Current political parties (who are they? What do they stand for?)
10. The 2000 coup (basic timeline, personalities, effects)
11. The 1987 coup (basic timeline, personalities, effects)
12. General principles of conflict resolution & reconciliation
13. General principles of the psychology of nationalism

• Journal: During the trip you will keep a journal in which you reflect on your major experiences and take note of the questions that arise for you. I will talk more about this in class, but the general idea is to use the journal as a place for reflection on your experiences, rather than just a list or diary of what you did. There will also be a group journal, kept on audio tape, to which you will contribute.
• Paper project: The final assignment is an extensive paper in which you will 1) critically evaluate one of the reconciliation efforts that you saw or heard about, in terms of its feasibility, groundedness in applicable theory, and cultural sensitivity, and 2) propose an integrated program for ethnic reconciliation that you think would be appropriate for the current Fijian context. I will give you a separate handout about that paper. It will be due on June 18.

Grading:

The grading for the seminar will be as follows:

Participation (attendance at all pre-departure sessions, preparation for class discussions, engagement in the program in Fiji (including being on time for appointments, active participation in discussions, and maintaining appropriate behavior), and your journal): 50%

Exam: 10%

Expert presentation: 15%

Paper project: 25%

General trip information:

You will receive a detailed itinerary, with travel plans within Fiji, contact numbers, and recommendations of what to pack, closer to the time of our departure. A few things that you should know at this point, though, are the following:

Pre-departure class sessions: Before we depart for Fiji, we will meet for several pre-departure meetings and two days of classroom discussions, on May 13^th and 14^th. During the class sessions, we will gain a general background in Fijian and Indo-Fijian culture and history, discuss recent political events, take a test, and do several student presentations.

Visas and passports: You do not need to get a visa for Fiji. You do, however, have to have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the end of our trip, and I would like a copy of the first two pages (with your picture etc. on it!) as soon as possible.

Vaccinations: No vaccinations or immunizations are required to travel to Fiji. However, the Centers for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/travel/) recommend that all travelers to the Pacific region have current Hepatitis A and Typhoid protection. You can get prescriptions for those immunizations at the AC Health Center.

Spending money: As you know, the price of the trip includes $250 for your own personal money. That money will cover several meals that are not included in the overall trip price, plus some incidentals (optional cultural activities, for example). If you plan on buying souvenirs or incurring other expenses, you should bring extra spending money with you.

Behavior: While we are in Fiji, you are a representative of this course, of Allegheny College, and, of course, of the U.S. While I anticipate we will have a good deal of fun on the trip while we are learning, we need to be respectful of local customs and very aware of our behavior and the effect it has on others. In particular, we are all subject to Allegheny’s Alcohol Policy while on the trip (it can be found in the Compass beginning on p. 116). No matter what the context, I will expect everyone to be in control of and aware of her or his own behavior.

A few final words:

This is going to be an interesting, exciting, and educational trip. The more open we are with each other, and the more we engage fully in the experience, the more we will learn. Let’s work together to make it a great experience!