As a growing number of partner states pursue their ambitions in the ‘crowded and complex ’ geopolitics of the Pacific Islands region, Australia is concerned about how its interests may be affected by partner states using tools of statecraft to influence, or even coerce, Pacific Island countries and/or other actors in the region. 

But what is ‘statecraft’? What tools of statecraft are states deploying in the region? And how useful are they? 

With this gap in knowledge in mind, our project is:

1. Examining what statecraft tools partners are deploying in the Pacific Islands.

2. Mapping which partners are deploying what tools and where they are targeted.

3. Considering what – if anything – particular statecraft tools achieve.

4. Analysing what consequences – if any – our findings may have for Pacific Island countries and peoples.

Statecraftiness storymap

Compiled by Professor Joanne Wallis and Dr Michael Rose, the interactive Statecraftiness StoryMap collates data on the major tools of statecraft being deployed by partner states in the Pacific Islands region, and maps where these tools are being deployed. The current iteration of the StoryMap is now available.

Statecraftiness podcast

Hosted by Dr Gordon Peake, this podcast takes listeners on a quest to understand what ‘influence’ means and how states are using their tools of statecraft to seek to achieve it in the Pacific Islands region and Timor-Leste. 

The first season of the podcast launched on 6 March 2023 and the second on 12 December 2023. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Spotify and Google Podcasts .

Power and influence in the Pacific Islands: Understanding Statecraftiness

Our forthcoming book, Power and influence in the Pacific Islands: Understanding Statecraftiness, outlines our analytical framework to understand power, influence, and statecraft in the Pacific Islands region. With contributions by scholars from the United States, Australia, China, New Zealand, and across the Pacific Islands region, it provides ‘both sides of the story’ of statecraft and explores how power and influence are being exercised in the Pacific Islands.

Policy papers

In our first policy paper, Statecraftiness: weaving webs of statecraft in the Pacific Islands , Joanne Wallis, Henrietta McNeill, Alan Tidwell, and Czes Tubilewicz present the component parts of the webs of statecraft that partner states are weaving in the Pacific Islands region. 

Scholarships are often seen as an important soft power tool of statecraft. But does giving a Pacific student a scholarship improve that person's perception of Australia? In our second policy paper  Priestley Habru, Wilhelmina Utukana, Feagaimaalii Soti Mapu, Jim Tawa Biliki, an Epo Mark discuss their experience of their scholarships and studies in Australia, how holding an Australian scholarship has shaped their opinion of Australia, and what they plan to go on and do after their studies. The findings are summarised in this op-ed on the AIIA Australian Outlook .

In our third policy paper, Lalaga, tithiki, talia vata: Pacific Islands weaving statecraft , Derek Futaiasi, Priestley Habru, Maima Koro, William Waqavakatoga, and Henrietta McNeill, analyse Pacific Island countries' activities to try to influence their partners and one another through statecraft. The findings are summarised on this op-ed on the AIIA Australian Outlook .

In our fourth policy paper, Statecraftiness: Australia’s defence diplomacy in the Pacific Islands , Joanne Wallis, Quentin Hanich (University of Wollongong), and Michael Rose analyse the effectiveness of Australia’s defence diplomacy as a tool of statecraft in the Pacific Islands.

In our fifth policy paper, The need for proactive rather than reactive statecraft in the Pacific Islands , Joanne Wallis, Henrietta McNeill, Michael Rose, and Alan Tidwell draw on the data collected for our Statecraftiness StoryMap to analyse what statecraft tools Australia and other partner states are deploying in the Pacific Islands region. They make several recommendations for Australia and other partner states about how they should analyse and undertake statecraft in the region. The findings are summarised in this op-ed on The Conversation .

The project team

• Professor Joanne Wallis – University of Adelaide

• Dr Michael Rose – University of Adelaide

• Professor Alan Tidwell – Georgetown University

• Dr Gordon Peake – Georgetown University

• Henrietta McNeill – University of Adelaide / Australian National University

Acknowledgement

This activity is supported by the Australian Government through a grant by the Australian Department of Defence. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Australian Government or the Australian Department of Defence.