Canberra: ANU Press, 2021. xvii, 294 pp. (Tables, figures, colour photos.) US$60.00, cloth; free ebook. ISBN 9781760464646.
Gonzaga Puas’ book The Federated States of Micronesia’s Engagement with the Outside World: Control, Self-Preservation and Continuity offers a substantive perspective on Micronesian history, informed by a swath of resources. His work provides a clear description of the country’s history, identity, foreign affairs, and cultural practices in this Big Ocean nation. The central arguments of the book are: first, historiographies written about Micronesia lack Micronesian perspectives of the historical events that occurred within the cultural and political boundaries of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM); and second, the indigenous Micronesian histories unincorporated into dominant literature played an important role in Micronesian self-determination and independence as they engaged with the outside world. One such example on which the author reflects comes from his education: the often cited analogy developed by non-Micronesians that the islands in Micronesia are like chickpeas flung across the ocean. This both mischaracterizes the Big Ocean nation of the FSM and attempts to diminish the significance of the geopolitical area.
Puas provides a comparative analysis of Micronesian and outsider historiography, through an introduction and eight chapters which are both interrelated and build upon each other. The introduction chapter provides the author’s background experiences to set the stage for understanding the forthcoming chapters. Chapter 1 discusses early outsider historiography and its exclusion of Micronesian voices. This chapter is followed by chapters 2 through 5, which provide a focus on Micronesian precolonial society and identity, responses to colonization, negotiating independence, the FSM Constitution and postcolonial identity. In consideration of the context provided in chapters 2 through 5, chapter 6 focuses on FSM’s engagement with the United States and China while chapters 7 and 8 raise the concerns of climate change and contemporary challenges, such as the Compact of Free Association (CoFA), FSM political and traditional leadership, and foreign affairs.
Chapter 1, “Writing Micronesian History,” describes outsiders’ and Micronesian versions of Micronesian history—notably the misnomer of European “discovery” widely found in contemporary textbooks provided (many by the US) throughout the education system of the FSM. Puas provides a critical review of scholarly research and literature that evaluates the history of Micronesia, directing the reader’s attention to a pattern in the commonly reproduced historical views—a historiography that lacks Micronesians’ perspectives on historical events in Pacific history, an absence that stems from the mainstream colonial accounts that scholars perpetuate due to a lack of time and resources to spend time in the field and in the archives.
A highlight of chapters 2 through 6 is the author’s in-depth description of Micronesian engagement with colonial powers and employment of Micronesian historical knowledge that has contributed to Micronesia’s informal economy. These chapters highlight the success of multiculturalism through the variety of Micronesian identities and their role during engagement with the outside world from 1521 to 1979 prior to independence in 1979, the FSM Constitution, the CoFA, and engagement with the US and China. Micronesians utilized these engagements in shaping their identities through contact with European visitors and demonstrated a desire for continuing self-governance. These engagements, along with a desire for self-governance, played a prominent role in the FSM organizing itself politically and economically while also achieving independence.
Chapter 7 describes the parallels between climate change and colonization in the FSM, a history familiar to many Pacific Island nations. This comparison highlights FSM security concerns in terms of health, food production, identity, emigration, and sovereignty. Chapter 8 brings forward the issues identified in chapter 7 and offers a holistic picture of potential future challenges for and within FSM’s three levels of government. The author reflects on Micronesian problem solving and adaptation, asserting that FSM laws are best informed by local people rather than imported and Micronesian historical memory is central to FSM’s future.
Among the strengths of the book is the author’s extensive discussion of Micronesian identity and continuity. Events described in this book emphasize that Micronesian success rests on the incorporation of indigenous Micronesian ways of thinking as they have faced changing conditions (colonial, political, environmental, global), much of which the author attributes to “the effective management of the four colonizing powers by Micronesians to suit their own purposes” (7). The author explicates that these events come with Micronesians’ perspectives, which have not been included in the historiography of Micronesia (such as the informal economy and economic development that are practiced by Micronesians). While there is much to be learned from this book, there are some additional issues that might have been considered as FSM continues on a path of self-determination and sovereignty, such as the impact of the long-term absence of citizens on land heirship and the FSM political system, as these citizens carry out their lives abroad.
Altogether, the chapters provide a thorough national historical backdrop and contextualize contemporary challenges as the Federated States of Micronesia and the United States engage in a third renegotiation of the Compact of Free Association. This book provides a timely in-depth timeline of events, background literature, as well as suggesting a way forward for citizens and scholars to consider the continued development of FSM as a nation and the process of writing history in a manner aligned with FSM nationalism.
Ashley Meredith
FSM Office of National Archives, Culture, and Historic, Kosrae