Fiji - 58.58
75
Trouble in paradise
Fiji operates differently than most other Pacific islands. To start, Fiji is notably more competent and its government is notably more consolidated. Fiji runs its government in a fashion that is more akin to Eastern Europe. The government works actively to suppress dissent and laws are well-defined. Daily life is significantly more regulated in Fiji than in other Pacific Islands. The Fijian government, while generally democratic, is byzantine and the incumbent FijiFirst party has repeatedly bent the law to stay in power. With this increased consolidation and centralization, however, comes increased competency. Issues of inept governance or public service disrepair are not present in Fiji to nearly the same extent as in other Pacific Islands. However, this does not stop Fiji from experiencing many of the same ails as other Pacific Islands. Fiji’s economy is weak and heavily tourism-dependent and was shrinking before the COVID pandemic hit. Fiji’s healthcare system leaves a number of smaller islands without comprehensive care. Fiji, like most of its neighbors, is also doomed. Fiji will be rendered uninhabitable by 2100 as the country’s low-lying coastal areas that house the majority of its population will be underwater.
Human Rights - 78
Fiji has fully abolished the death penalty. Protestors during COVID were subject to heavy fines as demonstrations of any kind were banned during COVID lockdowns. The government has broad grounds to limit freedom of assembly, including on grounds of safety and morality, even during times of normalcy. The Media Industry Development Decree is vaguely worded and used to silence government critics. It bans news organizations from publishing media that is “critical of the government” or “harmful to national interest and public order.” Laws restricting freedom of the press are seemingly arbitrarily enforced, leading to self-censorship. Homosexuality is legal and Fiji guarantees discrimination protections but no other LGBT rights. Abortion is legal to preserve the physical, mental, and financial health of the couple as well as in cases of rape, incest, and fetal impairment.
Democracy - 68
Presidential and prime ministerial elections are a convoluted mess in Fiji. The prime minister is nominated by the majority coalition and approved by the president, but presidential approval is not ceremonial and the president has vetoed several nominations. The president is chosen by parliament from two candidates, one nominated by the prime minister and one chosen by the opposition. This presidential election system effectively means that the president is chosen by the prime minister and the prime minister is chosen by the president. The unicameral parliament is directly elected. Outside observers noted elections to be free and fair with some minor irregularities on outlying islands. Fiji has not held municipal elections since 2005. The 1997 constitution was abrogated in 2009 and all municipalities have been run by federally appointed interims since. The National Electoral Council is appointed by the federal government and is subject to its pressure. The secretary-general (a member of the incumbent FijiFirst party) is also the minister of elections. The government regularly makes demonstrably false claims of corruption against members of the opposition.
Freedom - 56
Protestors during COVID were subjected to heavy fines as all demonstrations were banned during COVID lockdowns. The government has broad constitutional rights to limit freedom of assembly during times of normalcy, including on grounds of safety and morality. The Media Industry Development Decree is vaguely worded and used to silence government critics. It bans news organizations from publishing media “critical of the government” or “harmful to national interest and public order.” Laws restricting freedom of the press are seemingly arbitrarily enforced, leading to self-censorship. Flag burning is a misdemeanor and not protected by free speech. Trade unionists are frequently harassed by the government. Fiji has strictly enforced drug laws with steep penalties. Possession of even small amounts of drugs constitutes jail time. Fiji suspended all gun ownership licenses in 2000. No licenses were grandfathered in and all guns were confiscated. Fiji has not issued gun ownership permits since then.
Economy - 54
Health - 46
Fiji has a life expectancy of 67 years and an infant mortality rate of 2.17%. 30.2% of Fijians are obese and 1.9% of Fijian adults are malnourished. Malnourishment is significantly more prevalent among Fijian children at 7.9%. Fiji has a decent universal healthcare system that provides high-quality care in urban and tourist areas but many outlying islands lack comprehensive hospitals. 90% of Fijians have access to clean, running water, but it is heavily dependent on island. Some islands have near-universal access to clean, running water while running water is near nonexistent on some others. Fiji has major problems with tuberculosis in rural areas.
Corruption - 38
The incumbent FijiFirst party rampantly uses state funds to finance campaigns. A lack of funding makes it difficult for the opposition to gain traction. As a result, FijiFirst candidates consistently win elections despite low approval ratings. Investigations of grand corruption disproportionately target members of the opposition. Petty bribery is necessary to obtain public services and government contracts. Police extortion occurs but is not rampant in Fiji.
Competency - 62
The government is failing to control corruption and control the economy.
Future - 13
Most of Fiji’s population centers could be underwater by 2100, as the majority of Fiji’s population centers are in low-lying coastal areas. The Fijian economy is shrinking rapidly and was already on a backslide before COVID, meaning that it is unlikely to recover soon. Additionally, Fiji has been taking slow undemocratic steps in recent years.
Actions Abroad - 45
Fiji has rocky relations with regional superpowers. Australia has repeatedly withdrawn diplomats from Fiji over the arrest of Australian nationals and the 2009 coup d’etat. New Zealand condemned the arrest of Australian nationals over homosexual activity and withdrew troops as a result of the 2009 coup d’etat. Fiji is a tax haven. Fiji received a ten point penalty for its tax haven status.
0.5% of Fijians live below the national poverty line and 29.9% live below the national poverty line. 4.79% of Fijians are unemployed. Fiji has a high economic disparity but it varies heavily by island, with the main island being significantly wealthier than all other islands. The minimum wage in Fiji is $1.10 per hour. Fiji has a decent universal healthcare system that is fairly strong in major cities and tourist areas but some islands have no emergency rooms, requiring patients to be airlifted out. The Fijian economy has been on a backslide in recent years, shrinking by 19% in 2020 and 0.4% in 2019.