Fiji’s traditional chiefly leaders once occupied the
most prominent political roles in both national
and regional politics. Historically, chiefly political
authority was consolidated under the British colonial
regime and carried forward into the period of
independence from 1970. But the last quarter century
has seen a significant decline of chiefly influence,
perhaps part of a broader trend in the Pacific islands
where traditional authority is being undermined
by demographic and other changes, contributing
in turn to increased social and political instability
(Heartfield 2009:126). In Fiji, the decline began with
the first military coup in 1987, continuing through
to the present, albeit with some periods of enhanced
status for the paramount symbol of traditionalism
in Fiji, the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), sometimes
known by its Fijian language name, the Bose
Levu Vakaturaga. The GCC, however, was abolished
by decree under the military regime of Commodore
Josaia Voreque (Frank) Bainimarama in March
2012. The September 2014 elections held prospects
for the restoration of chiefly authority and status,
and the role of traditionalism, through the Social
Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) led by the
Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa. A
victory by SODELPA would also have seen the restoration
of the GCC. With SODELPA’s resounding
defeat by Bainimarama’s FijiFirst Party, such prospects
have received a significant blow.