Chapter 5: Political Geography

Bora Bora is made up of two islands, although the second one (Tupai) is known as a coconut plantation island and has only about 50 people. The major settlement and administrative settlement of the island is Vaitape. The island is an administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands which is part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia. Therefore, it is a commune of French Polynesia. As a territory of France, the politics of Bora Bora is based on a parliamentary representative democracy where the head of the government is the president of French Polynesia. The Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature and representatives are elected by popular vote. There are six constituencies (the Leeward Islands are one) and representation is based on population. Since the Leeward Islands have a small population compared to the rest of the constituencies they only have a few representatives, which presently are eight out of a total 57. Bora Bora’s significance as a major tourist attraction brings in major revenue and since it is the second most populous island of the Leeward Islands it comprises a major part of its constituency.


Map of Bora Bora and the Leeward Islands.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bora-Bora-Commune.png


Map of the Society Islands.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Karta_FP_Societe_isl.PNG


Map of French Polynesia.
http://www.europe-map.org/oceania/maps/french-polynesia.gif

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bora_Bora
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_of_French_Polynesia#References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Polynesia#Politics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_French_Polynesia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeward_Islands_(Society_Islands)