The Polynesian inhabitants of the Samoan islands had been in residence for some 2000 years before the first European colonialists became interested. After missionaries had converted many of the islanders to Christianity in the 1830s, it was the Germans and Americans who vied to take control. Ultimately, the island group was divided between the two. Contemporary Samoa comprises those islands colonized by the Germans, who formally declared a protectorate over them in 1899. During World War I, the Germans were driven out by New Zealand, which later acquired a United Nations mandate to administer the
territory. Measures towards local autonomy were introduced in the 1950s, before Samoa acquired independence in 1962 (as Western Samoa, under which name it was known until 1997) – the first Pacific island state to do so. The period of rule from Auckland, typified by racism, neglect and casual brutality on the part of the New Zealanders, carries bitter memories for the Samoans. In June 2002, New Zealand premier Helen Clark formally apologised to the Samoan people for their maltreatment during that period.
Political parties in the normal sense did not feature in Samoan politics until the late 1970s when a group of
Fono (national assembly) members in opposition to the Government created the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) which has dominated Samoan politics ever since, winning every one of the six elections held since then. Since the introduction of universal suffrage in 1991, there has always been a very high turn-out – around 90 per cent – at elections. The present government, led by Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is not especially popular: its autocratic style, intolerance of dissent, poor economic record and the perceived lack of accountability of its members have produced frequent outbursts of civil protest. These have not been on a scale to threaten the stability of the government, which next comes before the electorate in 2006.
GovernmentSamoa has a 49-member legislative assembly (the
Fono) which is elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term. 47 members are elected from the ranks of the 16,000
Matai (titleholders); the other two seats are reserved for non-Samoan candidates. The
Fono appoints the head of state for a five-year term. Executive power rests with the cabinet, comprising the Prime Minister and eight other ministers, appointed by the head of state with the approval of the
Fono.
EconomyMost Samoans are involved in subsistence agriculture; some cash crops are also grown for export, the most important of which are coconut, cocoa and bananas. Timber is exported in small quantities. Fishing is another important source of income and employment.
There is some small-scale manufacturing industry, mostly concerned with food-processing, textiles, woodworking and light engineering, and some small factories produce consumer goods for the domestic market.
The government has concentrated on tourism and export-oriented manufacturing in its efforts to develop the economy, although aspects of the climate (principally the country’s annual cyclones) have made this difficult. Nonetheless, tourism has now expanded to the point where it contributes 17% of GDP, based on the arrival of 90,000 visitors to the island group annually.
The government has also, with some success, sought to promote an offshore financial services industry. Further income comes from the remittances of Samoans working overseas – mostly in New Zealand and, to a lesser extent, in Australia; both these two countries also provide Samoa with a sizeable aid package.
Tangible benefits from a 1996 trade agreement with the Chinese government have become apparent. Meanwhile, a parallel program of economic reforms won the approval and ensuing financial support of the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and others. The economy is now growing at 5% annually.
Samoa is a member of both the Forum Secretariat and the South Pacific Commission.
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