Navigating the Future: A Samoan Perspective on U.S.-Pacific Relations

In this book, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega sets the intellectual and legislative agenda on Pacific issues for the next decade. As a delegate from American Samoa, he naturally focuses on the Pacific Island issues, but demonstrates considerable knowledge in Asian security and trade concerns. The author navigates a middle ground between those who see evil in everything that the U.S. does and the Pollyannas that are incapable of seeing any wrong. In readable prose we are mentored through arcane constitutional and treaty issues such as Exclusive Economic Zones, Territorial Status and Nuclear Free Zones. The author is also adept at explaining the more mundane problems of driftnet fishing, and agricultural and commercial policy. But the reader must realize that Eni is a Pacific Islander first and a scholar and practitioner second. Therefore, cultural issues mold his world view and knit together such diverse issues as American Indian policy, media fairness, and trad! e. This book will be valued by Americans and Pacific people alike, for Faleomavaega is one of the few Pacific Islander Americans who is in regular and informed contact with the whole Pacific Region - especially with the 22 Pacific Island nations and territories. He is highly respected throughout for productivity, pragmatism, dedication and integrity.

Faleomavaega has probably done more than any U.S. Congressman to improve the lot of people throughout the Pacific Island region, and to facilitate a deeper and more mutually beneficial relationship with the United States. In addition to superb service to his electorate (as shown by the fact that he has been re-elected four times in a row and still earns more than double the votes of his nearest rival), he has taken many initiatives for the Pacific Islands region as a whole.

The book outlines ways in which relations between the United States and the Pacific can be improved to mutual advantage and calls for deeper understanding! of the exceedingly diverse cultures and socio-political systems of this vast region.