Oceania and the United States: An Analysis of US Interests and Policy in the South Pacific,

Abstract

Oceania, the myriad island-states dotting a 25-million square mile expanse of the South Pacific, rarely commands worldwide attention. There have been recent social, political, and economic changes which suggest the desirability of a reassessment of US interests. In this monograph, the author analyzes the political environment and the policy issues in the South Pacific and identifies potential destabilizing factors, such as the continuing process of decolonization. This phenomenon has implications for the region as a whole, including the several remaining US territorial possessions. The potential for some form of Soviet presence in the area in the 1980s presents another possible destabilizing element. He also discusses other issues such as: access to sea resources; changing leadership patterns and internal economic problems; proximity to strategic sea lanes; and US relations with allies on the periphery of the region.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1980
Accession Number
ADA089120

Entities

People

  • John C. Dorrance

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Department Of State
  • Families (Human)
  • Fish
  • Foreign Relations
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Health Services
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • Law
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Teamwork
  • Treaties
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union