Do Small Island States Have A Future In A Globalised World? Norman Girvan Institute of International Relations University of the West Indies St Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago ISISA Conference 1-5 November 2004

A global contradiction SIS tourism is a multibillion dollar indicator of their ‘market’ value in a globalised world SIS tourism is a multibillion dollar indicator of their ‘market’ value in a globalised world ‘Extra-market’ contribution of SIS ecosystems given political recognition by the world community in SIDS Declaration ‘Extra-market’ contribution of SIS ecosystems given political recognition by the world community in SIDS Declaration But continuing threats to the viability of SIS from global market, ecological and political processes But continuing threats to the viability of SIS from global market, ecological and political processes

Why the contradiction? Global market failure Global market failure Fragmentation of global governance systems Fragmentation of global governance systems ‘Cosmology of disconnection’ ‘Cosmology of disconnection’

Resolving the contradiction Learn from ‘cosmologies of interconnection’ of Indigenous Knowledge Systems Learn from ‘cosmologies of interconnection’ of Indigenous Knowledge Systems Interconnect emerging system of global governance and commitments in the environment, trade, finance and social development Interconnect emerging system of global governance and commitments in the environment, trade, finance and social development Incorporate SIS ‘right to exist’ as a global entitlement Incorporate SIS ‘right to exist’ as a global entitlement

Value of SIS SIDS Declaration recognises ecological services and that their “survival is firmly rooted in their human resources and cultural heritage, which are their most significant assets (and) under severe stress” SIDS Declaration recognises ecological services and that their “survival is firmly rooted in their human resources and cultural heritage, which are their most significant assets (and) under severe stress” Ambiguity of SIDS Declaration - human and cultural assets are also of value to the entire world community - part of the ‘cultural gene pool’ of mankind. Ambiguity of SIDS Declaration - human and cultural assets are also of value to the entire world community - part of the ‘cultural gene pool’ of mankind. Extinction of SI would be a form of cultural series loss, as well as biological/ecological Extinction of SI would be a form of cultural series loss, as well as biological/ecological

Caribbean case 16th century: destruction of indigenous people 16th century: destruction of indigenous people 17th-19th centuries: African slave trade and Asian indentured servitude 17th-19th centuries: African slave trade and Asian indentured servitude 17th – 21st centuries: cultural adaptations of transplanted populations 17th – 21st centuries: cultural adaptations of transplanted populations Creative achievements in language, agriculture, politics, sport, music, literature, culture, migration—creation of new cultural assets for world community Creative achievements in language, agriculture, politics, sport, music, literature, culture, migration—creation of new cultural assets for world community Creation of new insular identities Creation of new insular identities

Environmental vulnerability Hurricane Ivan Sept 2004 Hurricane Ivan Sept 2004

Grenada Sept 8 04

Jamaica Sept 13 04

WTO – the missing links Historically, losers from national market integration were compensated by movement of labour and by social and geographic redistribution measures undertaken by national governments Historically, losers from national market integration were compensated by movement of labour and by social and geographic redistribution measures undertaken by national governments No analogous provisions for losers from international market integration No analogous provisions for losers from international market integration The initial impact of globalisation for small countries is likely to be negative The initial impact of globalisation for small countries is likely to be negative Global environmental, labour and social commitments are not legally binding and enforceable Global environmental, labour and social commitments are not legally binding and enforceable

Security Transnational crime, a global multibillion dollar industry fuelled by globalisation, controls resources that dwarf those of small, medium and some large states Transnational crime, a global multibillion dollar industry fuelled by globalisation, controls resources that dwarf those of small, medium and some large states In Caribbean, drug economy ‘exceeds the GDP of 12 of the 14 Caricom states’ and drug-transit exports ‘exceed the total of Caricom’s top five domestic exports ’ In Caribbean, drug economy ‘exceeds the GDP of 12 of the 14 Caricom states’ and drug-transit exports ‘exceed the total of Caricom’s top five domestic exports ’ Effects include corruption, violent crime, kidnapping, extortion, protection, money laundering Effects include corruption, violent crime, kidnapping, extortion, protection, money laundering Containment only possible with international cooperation Containment only possible with international cooperation

National governance Unity of effort around broad goals and strategies is a necessary condition to cope with challenges of globalisation Unity of effort around broad goals and strategies is a necessary condition to cope with challenges of globalisation This may be easier to achieve in SIS where sense of community and identity is strong This may be easier to achieve in SIS where sense of community and identity is strong Democratic participation in goal-setting may be facilitated small scale Democratic participation in goal-setting may be facilitated small scale

Regional governance For SIS, the benefits of regionalism lie less in market integration and more in functional cooperation For SIS, the benefits of regionalism lie less in market integration and more in functional cooperation Two important areas are (i) management of shared ecosystems and (ii) external negotiations Two important areas are (i) management of shared ecosystems and (ii) external negotiations Example (i) Caribbean Sea Initiative of the Association of Caribbean States Example (i) Caribbean Sea Initiative of the Association of Caribbean States Example (ii) Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery of CARICOM Example (ii) Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery of CARICOM

International Governance Effective national and regional governance by SIS essential to reform of global governance Effective national and regional governance by SIS essential to reform of global governance Architecture of global governance should recognize SIS ‘right to exist’ as members of the global community Architecture of global governance should recognize SIS ‘right to exist’ as members of the global community Coherence – incorporate recognition across all instruments Coherence – incorporate recognition across all instruments Instruments should be inter-connected and given equally binding status as international treaty obligations Instruments should be inter-connected and given equally binding status as international treaty obligations