This paper examines the extent social media is enabling e-democracy in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The study conducts an interpretative case study approach interviewing active social media users, political actors, civil servants, civilians, civil society actors and tertiary students. The study also conducts a content analysis of popular "political social media" Facebook pages in these three countries. The findings of the study suggest that social media is playing a role in facilitating citizen engagement with governments, making governments accountable and providing a means for citizens to be informed, to discuss and share views on political matters. However, social media usage is evolving quite differently in these three countries and factors such as high levels of militarism (Fiji), high levels of corruption (Solomon Islands) and also rapid ICT development (Vanuatu) have contributed towards shaping the potential of social media as a democratic enabler and political tool in these countries.

Item Type:	Refereed Conference Paper
Keywords:	Melanesia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, social media, e-democracy
Research Division:	Information and Computing Sciences
Research Group:	Information systems
Research Field:	Information systems not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Information and Communication Services
Objective Group:	Information systems, technologies and services
Objective Field:	Information systems, technologies and services not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Finau, G (Dr Glenn Finau)
ID Code:	150983
Year Published:	2014
Deposited By:	Accounting
Deposited On:	2022-07-09
Last Modified:	2022-08-30
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