The Pacific Islands Forum

Abstract This chapter presents a case study of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). It examines why the PIF has never established an international parliamentary institution (IPI) in spite of several favourable conditions, such as an increase in authority, a large scope, predominantly democratic member states, a legitimacy crisis in regional governance, and improving conditions for international diffusion. The explanation points to the absence of and contestation about general purpose. Small and recently independent island states blocked region building and occasional IPI proposals by dominant member states (Australia and New Zealand) to protect their sovereignty. The analysis is subdivided into two cases, the 1971–2000 period of initial institutionalization and the period from 2000 onwards during which the Forum experienced deepening integration together with a severe legitimacy crisis.