Pacific Series. Canberra: ANU Press, 2022. xiv, 236 pp. US$50.00, paper; free ebook. ISBN 9781760465148.
In the many nations that make up the Pacific Islands, there are more youth, defined as “those aged 15 to 35 years who are socially recognized as such” (18), than any other age group. Yet, there is little literature addressing the needs and desires of youth, particularly from their perspectives. Much of the literature comes from the fields of development and policy where the “youth bulge” (18) in the Pacific is seen as a security risk, instead of recognizing youth’s potential for developing their communities. Through examining youth livelihoods, leadership, and civic engagement in Fiji and Solomon Islands, Aidan Craney provides an insightful addition to the small but growing body of literature on youth in the Pacific. In this book, Craney shows how the “structural minimization” (24) of youth in these two countries creates “rational ignorance” (68) where youth are neither trained to be leaders nor choose to engage as active citizens because they have been ignored in the past. He argues for a “‘holistic livelihoods’ approach” (32) to development that considers the physical needs of youth while also giving them opportunities to envision and bring change in their communities, which focuses on youth as an asset.
Craney’s time working for a development organization in Fiji influences his analysis and contributions. Chapter 1 situates the findings within development literature and provides the theoretical framework exemplified through case studies throughout the book. Craney critiques youth bulge theory and suggests that it is more important to focus on the skills, capabilities, and “potentialities” youth bring to society (21). Key to Craney’s argument is the “structural minimization” of youth, which is rooted in cultural practices that require youth to be “seen but not heard” (24). As a way of showing respect, youth are discouraged from asking questions and are expected to “learn from observation and example” (24). Throughout the book, Craney shows how structural minimization limits opportunities for youth to be involved in decision making and discourages critical thinking, which means the voices of youth are missing from policy decisions.
Chapters 2 through 4 explain why structural minimization exists and show how it limits opportunities for youth to voice an opinion or become leaders. In chapters 2 and 3, Craney critiques the educational structure that prepares youth for white collar work instead of training them for skilled labour needed to grow local economies. The mismatch between the skills youth need for jobs and the type of training youth are attaining leads to both “unemployment and underemployment” (78–79). Chapter 4 explains how structural minimization is first learned in communities and then taught in schools, which creates rational ignorance and causes students to be “passive observers” (131) without the critical thinking skills necessary to become engaged citizens. Craney shows how the holistic livelihoods approach meets the needs of youth, while also allowing them to have a voice and agency to determine the type of development they desire.
Despite structural minimization and a lack of opportunities, chapters 5 and 6 give examples of youth engaged in activism. The goal of these chapters, which Craney reiterates in the conclusion, is to show that although youth are structurally minimized, they are eager to engage in society. Craney discusses two youth-run groups in Fiji and one in Solomon Islands that are addressing societal topics that elders and leaders are not discussing, giving youth a space to share their opinions and be heard beyond a “tokenistic” role (189). Since youth are marginalized in physical spaces, these groups rely on digital spaces, such as social media, to express their voices. While activist groups are not common because of structural minimization, these groups show that if given the chance youth are “seizing opportunities to be actively engaged members of their communities, countries, and cultures” (180). The book ends with the argument that “social perceptions of youth” need be reframed to see youth “as a resource in which to be invested” (195) because they will determine the futures of the Pacific.
Although Craney’s book has the goal of sharing the experiences of youth in Fiji and Solomon Islands, it falls short of this goal in two ways. First, most of the research took place in Fiji, a weakness Craney acknowledges and accounts for by ending each chapter with a comparison of Fiji and Solomon Islands, showing areas where the experiences are similar or different. Second, although the data comes from focus group interviews with youth and individual interviews with leaders of youth organizations, most voices we hear throughout the book are from youth leaders. Although these informants have insight into youth issues, they are “no longer socially associated with youthhood” because they are in leadership roles which prevents them from being in this category (123).
Since this book is straddling a policy contribution and an ethnographic analysis, more explanation of what it looks like to incorporate a holistic framework into these societies would be useful. The idea of structural minimization is an interesting theoretical contribution, and understanding its consequences on youth engagement is a crucial point for educators, leaders, and developmental organizations to consider. However, to really understand structural minimization and how it affects youth in Fiji and Solomon Islands we need further ethnographic data that particularly highlights the voices and experiences of youth themselves. How do the various youth groups, cultural performances, and other displays of identities in both countries fit within Craney’s idea of civic engagement? Do the youth engaging in these practices consider themselves to be structurally minimized? Further analysis along these lines would deepen our understanding of structural minimization and how to encourage holistic livelihood opportunities among Pacific youth. Despite these critiques, Craney’s book is a welcome addition to the literature about youth in the Pacific. It provides excellent insights into the complex factors affecting youth that extend beyond a lack of educational training or employment opportunities.
Rachel Emerine Hicks
University of California, San Diego