I.C. Campbell: Island Kingdom: Tonga Ancient and Modern

By HUGH LARACY

The world may no longer need a good ten-cent cigar, but our part of it does need certain literary equivalents. That is, histories of Pacific Islands groups that are authoritative and wide-ranging, yet accessible to a general readership.

New Zealand's Pacific neighbourhood, once so placid and predictable, has recently become more problematic and perverse. Comfortable, established assumptions are no longer helpful (if they ever were) in helping us understand what is going on there.

Events in Bougainville and the Solomons and in Fiji offer cases in point.

So, if less dramatically, at least for the present, does Tonga.

It is ruled by a virtually absolute monarch and self-interested clique of nobles. Yet the regime is fundamentally benign and most of the basic freedoms are allowed. But there are worrying problems, apart from an aid-dependent economy sapped by corruption.

There is a strong pro-democracy movement, but it is opposed by the ruling elite, and there is concern about the eventual succession to King Taufa'ahau's throne. Any disturbances arising from these matters would have severe implications for New Zealand.

Consequently, a revised and updated edition of Ian Campbell's Island Kingdom, first published in 1992 is welcome.

Beginning with first settlement and the emergence of Polynesian culture, Campbell takes the story through political evolution, the adoption of Christianity, the avoidance of colonial subjugation, and the reign of Queen Salote to the present.

The predominant theme is that of Tonga's Japan-like capacity to adapt to outside influences without abandoning "faka Tonga"; to balance modernisation with tradition.

The achievement is remarkable, but fragile. Thus, Tongans have long shown a profound appreciation for education, but employment chances remain frustratingly limited. Hence the impulse to migrate.

Campbell, though, is carefully optimistic about the political prospects.

Despite the 1875 constitution, which seemed to limit royal authority, the power of the monarchy has increased during the 20th century.

Yet Campbell sees it as being flexible enough to accommodate most of the changes demanded by the reform lobby since the 1990s - but only if the rulers realise that leadership should respect public opinion. Perhaps there is a message here that applies well beyond Tonga?

* Hugh Laracy is an associate professor of Pacific history at the University of Auckland.

Canterbury University Press, $39.95