Abstract
The practice of conflict resolution (“CR”) has long existed in the Oceania archipelago. Despite this, Western societies have continued to question the legitimacy and relevance of Indigenous CR methods. The lack of Indigenous cultural scholarship as well as indoctrinated modern worldviews are attributed to these perspectives. What is of greater concern is that there is a failure to recognise the importance of cultural and customary values which are the nucleus of Indigenous CR methods. To overcome this cultural blindness, it is imperative to dissect the underpinning values of Indigenous CR methods in the Pacific. By understanding the significance of these value and belief systems, Western societies can have a better respect for, and understanding of, Indigenous forms of CR. This will re-educate Western worldviews concerning the advantages and effectiveness of Indigenous CR methods, as well as empowering indigenous worldviews concerning their form of CR. The focus of this chapter is on exploring key values and belief systems that underpin conflict/dispute resolution practice in Samoa such as peace, gerontocracy, the self, and the importance of boundaries and spaces.
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Notes
- 1.
Lal and Fortune (2000) The Pacific Islands: An Encyclopaedia (53).
- 2.
Ridgell (2006) Pacific Island Nations and Territories (25).
- 3.
Pearce C and Pearce F (2010) Oceanic Migration: Path, Sequence, Timing and Range of Prehistoric Migration in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
- 4.
Ridgell (2006) Pacific Island Nations and Territories (8).
- 5.
Ridgell (2006) Pacific Island Nations and Territories (154).
- 6.
Pruitt and Kim (2004) Social Conflict: Escalation, Stalemate, and settlement (225).
- 7.
Wallensteen (2012) Understanding Conflict Resolution (9–11).
- 8.
Ta’isi (2008) Su’esu’e Manogi: In Search of Fragrance (104).
- 9.
Ta’isi (2008) Su’esu’e Manogi: In Search of Fragrance (106).
- 10.
Ta’isi (2008) Su’esu’e Manogi: In Search of Fragrance (107).
- 11.
Ta’isi (2008) Su’esu’e Manogi: In Search of Fragrance (109).
- 12.
Macpherson (2006) The Nature and Limits of Traditional Dispute Resolution Processes in Contemporary Samoa (133).
- 13.
Vaai (1999) Samoa Faamatai and the Rule of Law (29).
- 14.
Macpherson (2006) The Nature and Limits of Traditional Dispute Resolution Processes in Contemporary Samoa (129).
- 15.
Huffer and So’o (2005) Beyond Governance in Samoa: Understanding Samoa Political Thought (312).
- 16.
Tamasese, Peteru, Waldegrave, Bush (2005) Ole Taeao Afua (303).
- 17.
Tamasese, Peteru, Waldegrave, Bush (2005) Ole Taeao Afua (304).
- 18.
Efi (2011) Sufiga O le Tuaoi: Negotiating Boudaries—From Beethoven to Tupac, the Pope to Dalai Lama (4).
- 19.
Tuala-Warren (2002) A Study in Ifoga: Samoa’s Answer to Dispute Resolution (14).
- 20.
Tuala-Warren (2002) A Study in Ifoga: Samoa’s Answer to Dispute Resolution (14).
- 21.
Efi (2009) Bioethics and the Samoan Indigenous Reference (116).
- 22.
Macpherson (2005) The Ifoga: The Exchange Value of Social Honour in Samoa (109).
- 23.
Filoiali’i and Knowles (1983) The Ifoga: The Samoan Practice of Seeking Forgiveness for Criminal Behaviour (384).
- 24.
Ta’isi (2008) Su’esu’e Manogi: In Search of Fragrance (89).
- 25.
Tuala-Warren (2002) A Study in Ifoga: Samoa’s Answer to Dispute Resolution (14).
- 26.
Walker, Polly O (2004) Decolonizing Conflict Resolution: Addressing the Ontological Violence of Westernization.
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Ligaliga, M. (2022). Indigenous Conflict Resolution: A Samoan Perspective. In: Te Maihāroa, K., Ligaliga, M., Devere, H. (eds) Decolonising Peace and Conflict Studies through Indigenous Research. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6779-4_12
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