Ethnic representations and social integration of post-colonial French migrants in Tahiti, French Polynesia

Laura Schuft (1)

1 URMIS - Unite de recherche migrations et sociétés

This study analyzes the discourse on social integration and ethnic representations of French civil servants working short and long term in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Appointed to positions in education, public administration and law and order by the mainland authority, the attitudes and social interactions of this community compose a dynamic element of ethnic identity formation in Tahiti. Habitually the literary and academic voice on Polynesian culture and history, the discourse of this dominant socio-economic category is herein redefined as the object of sociological study. Analysis reveals three principle ideal type attitudes toward ethnic representations and relations, each positioned differently around reactions to and interpretations of their social role as mainland civil servants in French Polynesia. Similarities of these migrants' identity strategies with those of migrants elsewhere suggest that these self-preservation identity strategies are inherent to negative stigma rather than dependent on socio-economic status or duration of stay.

Mots clés: colonial society; interethnic relations; migrations; strategy; integration

Domaines: Sociologie

Laura Schuft. Ethnic representations and social integration of post-colonial French migrants in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Pacific Studies, 2008, 31 (2), pp.25-52. ⟨halshs-00454167⟩