27 February

Why has democracy failed in Fiji?

Some people think they know why. Others want to know why. The answer is more ob-vious than many suppose. Once the reason is understood, corrective action can be taken.

The 1997 Constitution, power-hungry politicians who have their own agenda, and rich people who have acquired their wealth by dishonest means have all been blamed. Al-though all these may be contributing factors, they are not the primary reason. The real reason is Post Colonial Syndrome.

The colonial powers created Post Colonial Syndrome by failing to prepare Fiji and other colonies for democratic self-rule. They set up educational systems to train lackeys to obey orders without thinking or asking why. Colonial schools trained pupils to memorise facts without thinking so that they could thoughtlessly and quickly answer questions on examinations and get high marks. Students were taught nothing about the history of democratic governments, why democratic governments were developed, or how they work. They were taught nothing about the responsibilities of citizens in an independent country. The result has been disastrous.

Because of Post Colonial Syndrome, a considerable number of indigenous people, who had never read the 1997 Constitution, were easily mobilised to support George Speight by convincing them that the Constitution did not support their rights as indigenous peo-ple. The fact that they were so easily mobilised is an indictment of the educational sys-tem as set up by the colonial powers. Had the people been properly educated, they would not have been so easily led. Instead, they would have insisted on having copies of the Constitution to study for themselves. They would also have sought opinions from a variety of sources. Well-educated people think for themselves and will not make im-portant decisions without first studying the facts thoroughly.

Fiji is not the only country to experience Post Colonial Syndrome. There are many countries with the same problem, only much worse.

Because of Post Colonial Syndrome, much of Africa is a basket case. Africa consisted of colonies of France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and England. None of these colonial powers adequately prepared their colonies for the day on which they would become in-dependent. At the time they became independent, some of these colonies actually had a literacy rate of less than twenty five percent. The citizens did not have the foggiest idea of how to govern themselves properly. Thus, these former colonies are beset by coups, civil war, and bloody massacres.

South America and Central America consisted of colonies of Portugal and Spain. Be-cause of Post Colonial Syndrome, these former colonies, although in better shape than the former African colonies, have also been beset by warfare and military coups. Be-cause of Post Colonial Syndrome, Indonesia and the Philippines are constantly beset by strife.

Merely telling people how democracy works does not adequately prepare a country to govern itself. Sun Yat-sen believed that explaining democracy to the Chinese people would make it possible for China to establish a democratic government quickly. Under his influence, a democratic republic was established in 1912. It failed after about fifteen years, after which there was a long civil war followed by a fall into communism.

Most countries which are democratic did not achieve their democratic state quickly and painlessly. England became democratic gradually over a period of centuries. France became democratic only after a bloody revolution which went through several phases. Spain had a civil war. The United States was democratic in theory after the ratification of the constitution. However, slavery existed until after the civil war of the early 1860s and women could not vote until 1920. Democracy has often developed at an uneven rate, with occasional reversals.

Fiji became independent in 1970. Considering the experience of other former colonies, and how democracy has developed elsewhere, the colonial powers should have realised that preparing Fiji for democracy and independence would be essential to Fiji's success. Thus, there can be no excuse for their failure to prepare Fiji and they should accept a considerable share of the blame for Fiji's current problems.

Although Fiji's problems are mainly the fault of the colonial powers, knowing that does not solve the problems. To solve the problems and become a stable democracy, it will be necessary for Fiji itself to take prompt corrective action.

If the people in a country understand democracy and are truly committed to it, the country can function reasonably well even with a mediocre constitution. If the people are not committed to democracy, even the best possible constitution will not make stability possible. A constitution is not a magic document which is capable of solving all of a country's problems. Thus, the widespread belief that the 1997 Consti-tution is the cause of Fiji's current problems is wrong. It is no more than a contributing factor. Moreover, any problems with the 1997 Constitution could be corrected legally by amendment, using procedures defined by the Constitution itself.

For Fiji to achieve a permanent and stable democratic state, it will be necessary to make changes to the educational system. Students must be taught to think and analyse for themselves and not depend on others to do their thinking for them. They must also be taught to act as responsible citizens and be concerned about the rights and welfare of others, without regard to race or religion, and not be concerned only with their own rights and welfare. They must study the history of democratic governments, how de-mocratic governments function, why we have democratic governments, and what the alternatives are to democratic governments.

Non-democratic countries have widespread poverty, a big gap between rich and poor, and its people have poorer health and a shorter life expectancy. History shows repeat-edly and clearly that without good democratic government, these problems cannot be adequately solved. 

Thus, it is important to restore democracy to Fiji quickly and not wait until most of the citizens have been educated about democratic governments by a revised school system.
One might wonder how Fiji can quickly become a stable democracy until after the schools have had twenty or more years to educate the people about democracy. One might also wonder how Fiji can avoid the sometimes bloody conflicts which have beset other countries before they have become democratic. I am convinced that Fiji can do it.

Fiji has the advantage of being able to learn from the problems of other developing countries. Also, Fiji has a high literacy rate. In addition, we now live in a world in which democracy is regarded as the norm. Most of the other countries which have struggled to become democratic have done so without these advantages.

For Fiji to become stable and democratic quickly, it will be necessary for leaders and other influential people in Fiji to commit themselves to doing what is best for the people and become true statesmen. There are people in the world who, when confronted by the suffering of others, will put themselves at extreme risk to see that justice is done. Fiji's leaders may be called upon to do this also.
During the Nazi era in Germany, Oskar Schindler, at great risk to himself, saved thou-sands of Jews from being murdered in the Nazi death camps.

When the Nazis invaded Denmark, they required all the Jews to sew yellow stars of David on their clothes so that they could be readily identified for shipment to the death camps. The king of Denmark, at great risk to himself, saved the Jews in Denmark by putting a yellow star of David on his own clothes and urging his subjects to do the same.

When the United States was at war with England (the American revolutionary war), the famous American patriot, Nathan Hale, was captured by the English. Before he was executed, he was asked whether he had any last words. His last words were, "I only re-gret that I have but one life to give for my country."

If there are leaders in Fiji who have the courage and unselfish motivation to do so, they can rise to the occasion and prevent the people of Fiji from engaging in violence. If they rise to this level of statesmanship, then democracy can quickly be restored and Fiji can prosper. But, if the leaders think about only themselves, then Fiji may be consumed by bloody violence and the people may suffer the consequences for decades to come.
We know that the problems in Fiji are caused by Post Colonial Syndrome as the result of the colonial powers' failure to prepare Fiji for independence. But, the immediate solution depends on the quality of Fiji's leaders.

Will the leaders in Fiji rise to the challenge so that Fiji will quickly become a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic country where all who live here will benefit? 

Or will the leaders fail Fiji and cause the people to suffer?

We will soon find out.