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Papers by Paulson Panapa

Research paper thumbnail of The loneliness of the pro-government backbencher and the precariousness of simple majority rule Tuvalu

The Pacific Island microstate of Tuvalu has acquired a reputation for having a ‘high degree of po... more The Pacific Island microstate of Tuvalu has acquired a reputation for having a ‘high degree of political stability’ (Somoza 2001, p. 832), and has a top Freedom House ranking for civil rights and political liberties (Freedom House 2007). Yet, despite regular elections and the absence of severe social crises, there has been since 1993 an increasing frequency of ‘no confidence’ challenges in parliament and resulting defeats of governments. Following an early postindependence phase of relative executive stability, Prime Ministers proved much less able to sustain majorities in parliament. Seven different governments took office between 1998 and 2006, and none lasted more than two years. One analysis of the 2004 parliament found that all but two of the then incumbent MPs had defected from one group to another at some point during their tenures (Taafaki 2004, p. 17). ‘Political stability’ was a principle concern encountered during the deliberations of the 2000 Constitutional Review Commit...

Research paper thumbnail of THE LONELINESS OF THE PRO-GOVERNMENT BACKBENCHER AND THE PRECARIOUSNESS OF SIMPLE MAJORITY RULE IN TUVALU

Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National Universit... more Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University. SSGM's key objectives are to encourage scholarship on governance and state-society relations; generate dialogue throughout Melanesia and the Pacific Islands on these issues; and assist in bridging policy and research. The Program's research and outreach focuses on: * Island Melanesia -Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji; * the culturally-related region to the west including Papua/Irian Jaya and Timor; and * the countries of the Pacific Islands region to the north and east.

Research paper thumbnail of The loneliness of the pro-government backbencher and the precariousness of simple majority rule Tuvalu

The Pacific Island microstate of Tuvalu has acquired a reputation for having a ‘high degree of po... more The Pacific Island microstate of Tuvalu has acquired a reputation for having a ‘high degree of political stability’ (Somoza 2001, p. 832), and has a top Freedom House ranking for civil rights and political liberties (Freedom House 2007). Yet, despite regular elections and the absence of severe social crises, there has been since 1993 an increasing frequency of ‘no confidence’ challenges in parliament and resulting defeats of governments. Following an early postindependence phase of relative executive stability, Prime Ministers proved much less able to sustain majorities in parliament. Seven different governments took office between 1998 and 2006, and none lasted more than two years. One analysis of the 2004 parliament found that all but two of the then incumbent MPs had defected from one group to another at some point during their tenures (Taafaki 2004, p. 17). ‘Political stability’ was a principle concern encountered during the deliberations of the 2000 Constitutional Review Commit...

Research paper thumbnail of THE LONELINESS OF THE PRO-GOVERNMENT BACKBENCHER AND THE PRECARIOUSNESS OF SIMPLE MAJORITY RULE IN TUVALU

Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National Universit... more Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University. SSGM's key objectives are to encourage scholarship on governance and state-society relations; generate dialogue throughout Melanesia and the Pacific Islands on these issues; and assist in bridging policy and research. The Program's research and outreach focuses on: * Island Melanesia -Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji; * the culturally-related region to the west including Papua/Irian Jaya and Timor; and * the countries of the Pacific Islands region to the north and east.

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