This panel takes its cue directly from the suggestion that the spirit of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara’s ‘Pacific Way’ and Epeli Hau’ofa’s vision of an Oceanic ‘Sea of Islands’ have come to characterize Pacific Islander perspectives on their region and its future, and that these reflect a demand from Pacific Islanders to define their own perspectives and priorities in their connections with Europe. Does this imply a convergence of perspectives between Mara’s and Hau’ofa’s visions and can we identify a unified view of both Oceania and its (European) ‘others’? Or are there tensions between the two visions? If so, do these reflect broader tensions across the region? How has the rise of sub-regionalism impacted on Oceanic identity? How do national identities interact with regional or sub-regional identities? To what extent are Australia and New Zealand considered as outposts of European civilization and contrasted with an Oceanic self? What implications do any of these issues have for the mediation of a Pacific or Oceanic identity in the context of inter-regional relations?
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