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Over the past decade, countries in the Pacific region have come under increasing pressure from growing geopolitical competition, spurred by initiatives by the People’s Republic of China to establish closer ties with Pacific countries. This talk examines the concept of the ‘Blue Pacific Continent’, through which Pacific countries have sought to manage these challenges while refocusing attention on their own priorities. The talk will trace the uses and abuses, translations and transformations of the ‘Blue Pacific Continent’ imaginary in law and politics – and its relationship to other, competing regional imaginaries – since its first articulation at the UN Oceans Conference in 2017. While the ‘Blue Pacific’ aims to emphasize the agency and autonomy of Pacific Island countries, the talk will argue that it is in danger of being co-opted by interests and projects that are incompatible with those aims. *MCLE Credit will be offered
Please contact Andrea Gardner with any questions.