A Fiji (parliament) for all Fijians? The impact of gender-blind and race-blind electoral provisions in a divided society

AUTHOR(S)
Kerryn Baker
Development

In a gendered and racialized society, what do gender-blind and race-blind electoral provisions mean for diversity in politics? This question is particularly important for Fiji, a country with a post-independence history punctuated by successive coups and abrogations of the constitution. In 2013, a military administration promulgated what was purported to be an “ethnically blind” constitution that championed civic rights. Nine years later, in 2022, a democratic milestone was achieved with the first successful transition of power since the 2006 military coup. Yet this change was accompanied by reduced diversity in parliamentary representation. This article explores the impact of gender-blind and race-blind electoral provisions in the 2022 Fiji general elections. It finds that despite progressive elements, ultimately, the 2013 constitution entrenches the status quo of politics – militarized and dominated by male and ethnic Fijian interests. In this context, and despite democratic advancements, diverse voices continue to be marginalized in Fijian politics.

Downloads
There are no downloads available
Research Type(s)
Journal Article
August 14, 2025
Published in
2025
SHARE

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

What are you looking for?

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

Filter by Categories

Sort by Categories

Filter by Year

Sort by Year

Filter by Review Status

Sort by Review

Filter by Country

Sort Country Popup
Skip to content