The political economy of logging in Solomon Islands

This political economy study of the logging industry in Solomon Islands builds upon previous analytical work to propose an explanatory framework for the prevalence of a range of practices that can be broadly described under the rubric of “corruption.” The literature on social embeddedness and political culture is drawn upon to develop a framework that emphasizes the importance of social and cultural influences - as well as economic ones - on the behavior of elected representatives, government officials, and village "big men." Like all Melanesians, they are enmeshed in networks of obligation and reciprocity. Ultimately, it is the socially and culturally grounded expectations of their kinsmen that compel them to access and distribute resources such as from forestry. This indigenous political culture has been overlain with the distinctive business culture of the Asian loggers and has proven to be highly susceptible to the latter's venal suasions. This political economy framework goes a long way toward explaining the ongoing lack of political will for legislative reform of the forestry sector, as well as the chronic instability that has characterized politics in Solomon Islands since achieving independence