Transnational corporations

(p. 62). The region’s natural wealth is substantial but so far heavily under the control of TCs. And so long as they remain dominant so will island countries find it difficult to real ise a meaningful state of econo mic independence. (Interesting ly, Winkler maintains that the only truly independent people are subsistence farmers who can still feed and provide for themselves a notion which might strike some as being somewhat unrealistic and nos talgic in this day and age.) All this makes sombre read ing. but fortunately Winkler does not leave us without a glimmer of hope for the future.

The final chapter offers alterna tives capable of assisting Pacific island economies to escape the excesses of the Western econo mic model.

Winkler pleads for a turning away from present ideologies and economic structures in favor of a more humane

approach which focuses on the community and the well being of all.

He proposes a development strategy based on the following four principles: to change pre sent market mechanisms; a promotion of the concept of self-reliance; social justice; and full participation in the decision making process. These are admirable enough principles but, unfortunately, Winkler does not develop them in detail for the benefit of those who have to determine deve lopment strategy in the islands.

Some guidelines on how to go about changing existing market structures would be helpful.

And he does not appear to fully appreciate the practical difficul ties of converting these stragegies into working prin ciples given the existing power structures and development ideas.

On the role of the church,

Winkler reaffirms that it must “cast its lot with the poor” and seek to change basic economic arrangements and attitudes.

The latter in particular is a tremendous challenge and one which calls for new initiatives and greater determination than demonstrated in the past on the part of the church.

And what of our political leaders who have been cast among those who are the “high-priests” of modern capitalist development? They will need to re-examine the part they may be playing (perhaps unwittingly) in promoting the interests of TCs in their home islands, as well as current deve lopment policies, to ensure that they conform to national aspira tions set against resource avail ability. To change one’s way of thinking on these matters is not easy; but a careful reading of Winkler’s book would be a fine

way to start.

Te’o /. Fairbaim.