Linda Crowl -- publishing in the Pacific Islands: page 6

CONCLUSION

'Publishing has an important role in the Third World. Although it does not count for much in terms of gross national product, its importance to society outweighs its economic cost and benefit. The provision of books is crucial to education, to the development and maintenance of literacy, to the growth of a national culture, to the production and distribution of knowledge relevant to the nation, and to a sense of intellectual community' (Altbach, Arboleda & Gopinathan 1985:1-2).

Publishing's role is no different in the Third World than it is in the First. Publishing in the Pacific Islands and in the industrial countries is still developing, with issues such as copyright posing significant questions for this "intellectual enterprise". However, publishing in the Pacific Islands lags behind that of industrial countries not only because of lack of finance, skills and market but also because of politics. Politics happens at all levels from petty jealousies in tiny communities on small islands to arguments about copyright in international fora.

'For a long time publishing was ignored by policy makers concerned mainly with the more immediate problems of socioeconomic development. Recently the importance of books has been increasingly recognized, and consequently the importance of publishing to educational and cultural policies' (Altbach, Arboldeda & Gopinathan 1985:1-2). [My emphasis]

I disagree with this statement. Since publishing's inception in the Pacific Islands, policy makers in- and outside government, of all races, have been aware of the power of producing books. Similar to other Pacific Islanders, "For Samoans this power can be in direct conflict with the traditional power structure. Politicians are only too aware of media influence" (Holding 1991:7-8). It is true that other matters have required attention, such as medical care and roads; however, one cannot sidestep the issue of politics playing a role, or many roles, in whose writing has been, and will be, published by whom and made available to whom in the Pacific Islands.

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