ABSTRACT
This chapter turns to the final specific tool of statecraft analysed in this book: strategic narratives. The developing literature on strategic narratives as tools of statecraft has analysed their attempted use by great powers, particularly China, to influence less materially powerful states. This chapter switches focus to analyse how Pacific Island countries (PICs), which are less materially powerful, have created and deployed their own strategic narratives. It does this by analysing the Blue Pacific narrative adopted and deployed by PICs to seek to influence their more materially powerful partners. It analyses the discourse and policies of partner states and international institutions and argues that they have, at times, been influenced by this narrative to both change their own narratives, and, more significantly, their substantive policies. While it acknowledges that partner states have appropriated the Blue Pacific narrative in their own attempts to influence PICs, it concludes by arguing that the Blue Pacific narrative demonstrates how less materially powerful states can leverage geopolitical competition so that their strategic narratives can influence more materially powerful partners to advance their interests and priorities.
