A Pacific Islander weaving a mat symbolizing tradition intersecting with technology and global power dynamics.

Pacific Power Struggle: How Global Interests Clash Over Indigenous Knowledge

Jordan Keane in Global Affairs June 2025 • 4 min read.

"A Deep Dive into the Complex Web of Intellectual Property Rights, Traditional Knowledge, and Geopolitical Maneuvering in the Pacific Region."

The Pacific region is emerging as a key arena where global powers are competing to protect traditional knowledge (TK) and intellectual property rights (IPRs). This contest involves not only the well-documented tensions between developed and developing nations but also a more nuanced struggle among established regional players such as Australia and New Zealand, and the increasingly assertive European Union (EU).

Historically, Australia and New Zealand have been the dominant influences in the Pacific, particularly in trade and development. However, the EU is now actively engaging with Pacific Island countries, offering technical assistance and alternative frameworks for protecting TK. This engagement is reshaping the dynamics of regional cooperation and raising complex questions about sovereignty, cultural preservation, and economic development.

This article examines the multifaceted dimensions of this evolving power dynamic, exploring the EU's strategic interests in the Pacific, the responses of Australia and New Zealand, and the implications for the indigenous communities whose knowledge and cultural heritage are at the heart of this debate.

Why is the Pacific a Battleground for Intellectual Property?

A Pacific Islander weaving a mat symbolizing tradition intersecting with technology and global power dynamics.

For decades, Australia and New Zealand have largely shaped the economic and political agenda in the Pacific. Agriculture, dominating their trade strategies, often overshadowed other critical issues such as intellectual property rights. This created a vacuum that the EU is now attempting to fill.

The EU’s interest isn't purely altruistic; it’s deeply rooted in its own economic and geopolitical ambitions. By offering technical assistance and advocating for specific types of IP protections, the EU aims to:

Secure markets for its pharmaceutical and digital industries.
Promote its geographical indications (GIs) system, bolstering the market position of member states like France, Spain, and Italy.
Gain influence in international forums, particularly the World Trade Organization (WTO), by aligning with Pacific Island countries on key issues.

This intrusion into what was previously seen as Australia and New Zealand’s sphere of influence has created considerable friction. The Pacific Island countries, seeking to assert their sovereignty and protect their cultural heritage, are strategically navigating these competing interests to secure the best possible outcomes for their communities.

The Future of Indigenous Knowledge in a Globalized World

The struggle for control over traditional knowledge in the Pacific is far from over. As the EU, Australia, and New Zealand continue to pursue their respective agendas, the fate of indigenous communities hangs in the balance. The key to ensuring a just and equitable outcome lies in empowering these communities to define their own terms of engagement, assert their rights, and safeguard their cultural heritage for future generations. Ultimately, the Pacific's experience serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges facing indigenous populations worldwide in an era of increasing globalization and interconnectedness.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2139/ssrn.2177413, Alternate LINK

Title: 'The Pacific Solution: The European Union'S Intellectual Property Rights Activism In Australia'S And New Zealand'S Sphere Of Influence'

Journal: SSRN Electronic Journal

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Michael Leslie Blakeney

Published: 2012-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why is the Pacific region becoming a focal point for disputes over traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights?

The Pacific region has emerged as a battleground due to the competing interests of global powers seeking to protect traditional knowledge (TK) and intellectual property rights (IPRs). Historically, Australia and New Zealand held dominant influence, but the European Union (EU) is now actively engaging with Pacific Island countries. This engagement aims to secure markets, promote geographical indications (GIs), and gain influence in international forums like the World Trade Organization (WTO), creating friction and reshaping regional cooperation.

What strategic interests drive the European Union's engagement in the Pacific region concerning intellectual property?

The European Union's (EU) engagement in the Pacific is driven by multiple strategic interests. Firstly, it seeks to secure markets for its pharmaceutical and digital industries. Secondly, the EU aims to promote its geographical indications (GIs) system to bolster the market position of member states. Lastly, it aims to gain influence in international forums like the World Trade Organization (WTO) by aligning with Pacific Island countries. These efforts are intended to reshape the dynamics of regional cooperation to the EU's advantage.

How have Australia and New Zealand historically influenced the Pacific, and how is this changing with the entrance of the EU?

Historically, Australia and New Zealand have been the dominant influences in the Pacific, particularly in trade and development. Agriculture dominated their trade strategies, often overshadowing critical issues such as intellectual property rights. However, the European Union (EU) is now actively engaging with Pacific Island countries, offering technical assistance and alternative frameworks for protecting traditional knowledge (TK). This is reshaping the dynamics of regional cooperation and challenging the established influence of Australia and New Zealand.

What challenges do indigenous communities in the Pacific face amidst the competition for traditional knowledge, and what is crucial for a just resolution?

Indigenous communities in the Pacific face the challenge of having their traditional knowledge (TK) and cultural heritage commodified and controlled by external powers like the European Union (EU), Australia, and New Zealand. Ensuring a just and equitable outcome requires empowering these communities to define their own terms of engagement, assert their rights, and safeguard their cultural heritage. This empowerment is essential to prevent exploitation and preserve their cultural identity in a globalized world.

In the context of the Pacific's struggle over traditional knowledge, what broader implications does this have for indigenous populations worldwide?

The Pacific's experience serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges facing indigenous populations worldwide in an era of increasing globalization and interconnectedness. The struggle for control over traditional knowledge (TK), intellectual property rights (IPRs) involves not only the tensions between developed and developing nations but also a more nuanced struggle among established regional players such as Australia and New Zealand, and the increasingly assertive European Union (EU). It highlights the need for indigenous communities globally to assert their rights, protect their cultural heritage, and ensure their voices are heard in international forums to prevent exploitation and preserve their unique cultural identities.