ABSTRACT
This chapter explains key concepts in political geography in the context of a rapidly changing island country. Many geography textbooks and maps relegate Oceania and small Pacific islands, in particular, to the periphery despite the region’s size and diversity. The geographical spatiality of islands themselves perpetuate a geographical imaginary that emphasizes a distinct identity, which can be employed to justify special rights and alternative definitions of citizenship. The French colonized Kanaky/New Caledonia (KNC) in 1853, establishing a penal colony, missionary outposts, and free settler colonies. As French settlement expanded, Indigenous Kanak were relocated to reservations and denied rights in the French Republic. Island territories with larger populations were much more likely to seek full sovereignty from colonial states. In KNC, customary governance is partially embodied by the Customary Senate. The Customary Senate is responsible for advising the New Caledonian government on issues related to Kanak culture and identity.
