Nauru in the Arc of Instability: Too Many Degrees of Freedom?
ously in any credible “arc of instability”, even one whose span includes the remotest region on earth. Yet, for its own special reasons, Nauru deserves some mention in the arc of instability if only to demonstrate its idiosyncratic contribution to this image of a putative zone of unstable states to Australia’s north threatening the Commonwealth’s security. There are, perhaps, a variety of explanations for Nauru’s inclusion in this arc of instability. A principal one is a propensity in the popular media to conflate such terms as “failed state” and “rogue state” thus including Nauru with a wide range of states that have abused their sovereign obligations. A less visible factor is the human tendency to try to find symmetry at the expense of consistency when explaining diverse events under a single rubric. Thus, to use a phrase like “arc of instability” encourages the search for examples to make such an arc complete or continuous. Another rationale may be an expectation of what Nauru is to become as the island’s one significant natural resource – phosphate – runs out. At least until very recently, Nauru has probably been more “roguish” than “failed” but it would seem that Australia has not found Nauru’s willingness to sell its sovereignty necessarily all that threatening; at least when it agrees to process would-be refugees targeting Australia. This chapter presents an overview of Nauru’s inclusion in the arc of instability against a perspective of responsible state behavior. The logic of this approach is grounded largely in the ambiguity surrounding the linkages that make the arc of instability a coherent and useful concept. If there is one constancy that unites countries as disparate as Indonesia, the Solomons and Nauru in a concept such as the arc of instability, it lies in their inability or unwillingness to manage fully the demands of sovereignty. Whether the grounds for this failure to meet expectations of responsible state behavior stems from a lack of will or a lack of means may not be material for those adversely affected although it will affect the response. In the case of Nauru, the question of state responsibility goes back more than just to the origins of the minuscule republic since the same can be said of all the other states in this arc. It also goes to the special, almost unique, circumstances that appeared to give Nauru every advantage to be an effective state despite its small size (Figure 11.1). Linking Nauru’s own special circumstances in managing state responsibility with Australia’s perception of an arc of instability is the island’s long ties to Australia. The primary association was Nauru’s quasi-colonial subordination to Australia under the mandate/trusteeship systems. This United Nations’ moderated relationship enabled Nauru to hasten the pace of national self-determination at a time that was especially congenial in terms of international expectations of smaller polities. The minimal 11. NAURU IN THE ARC OF INSTABILITY: TOO MANY DEGREES OF FREEDOM? RICHARD HERR AND DONALD POTTER
Books, Articles, Chapters
This bibliography contains books, articles and chapters that appeared in 2006 and the early part of 2007 with some of earlier date sighted too late for inclusion previously. Most official publications are excluded. Works of fiction are usually omitted unless they are considered likely to be of special interest to Pacific historians. Books, articles, chapters and reprints are interfiled. To reduce annotations to a minimum, items are classified by geographical areas unless the theme covers more than one island group. In this case, they will be found under a subject heading. However, anyone wanting to find all references to a particular subject, e.g. Missions, should also look at entries in geographical sections. An attempt has been made to supply complete and accurate biographical details based on personal examination, but this is not always possible if a work has been published outside Australia. Items are numbered, and an author index has been provided. Many people have contributed to the bibliography. I particularly wish to thank Niel Gunson, Hugh Laracy and Vicki Luker.
Red Mafiya: How the Russian Mob Has Invaded America
In North America alone there are now thirty Russian crime syndicates operating in at least seventeen U.S. cities, most notably New York, Miami, San Francisco.Red Mafiya: How the Russian Mob Has Invaded America Kindle edition by Robert I. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones. A superb introduction to the new face of organized crime is rife with tales of amputation, castration and blood-sprayed trophy blonds. RED MAFIYA HOW THE RUSSIAN MOB HAS INVADED AMERICA BY ROBERT I. The major figure in uncovering the Russian Jewish Mafia in America was a journalist named.