Island mobilities: spatial and social mobility on Ontong Java, Solomon Islands

TY - JOUR

T1 - Island mobilities

T2 - spatial and social mobility on Ontong Java, Solomon Islands

AU - Egelund Christensen, Andreas

AU - Gough, Katherine

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Like many island people, Ontong Javans are always on the move to and from their gardens or the sea, between islands within the atoll, and to other localities both within and outside Solomon Islands. This article explores the nature of this mobility and the ways in which the spatial mobility of Ontong Javans is linked to their livelihood strategies and to social mobility. Building on both quantitative and qualitative data collected over a period of nine months spent on Ontong Java and in Honiara, it is shown how Ontong Javans are highly mobile on a range of spatial and temporal scales. Mobility is shown to be especially linked to changes in livelihood opportunities, which have varied greatly over the years on Ontong Java, whereas the connection between spatial and social mobility is less apparent. Since extensive mobility practices are an integral part of livelihoods, and islanders have well-established links to relatives and work off the island, they may be in a better position to cope with externally induced changes than is often supposed.

AB - Like many island people, Ontong Javans are always on the move to and from their gardens or the sea, between islands within the atoll, and to other localities both within and outside Solomon Islands. This article explores the nature of this mobility and the ways in which the spatial mobility of Ontong Javans is linked to their livelihood strategies and to social mobility. Building on both quantitative and qualitative data collected over a period of nine months spent on Ontong Java and in Honiara, it is shown how Ontong Javans are highly mobile on a range of spatial and temporal scales. Mobility is shown to be especially linked to changes in livelihood opportunities, which have varied greatly over the years on Ontong Java, whereas the connection between spatial and social mobility is less apparent. Since extensive mobility practices are an integral part of livelihoods, and islanders have well-established links to relatives and work off the island, they may be in a better position to cope with externally induced changes than is often supposed.

U2 - 10.1080/00167223.2012.707803

DO - 10.1080/00167223.2012.707803

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0016-7223

VL - 112

SP - 52

EP - 62

JO - Geografisk Tidsskrift

JF - Geografisk Tidsskrift

IS - 1

ER -