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- Title
THE CHALLENGES OF SOVEREIGNTY IN SMALL STATES.
- Abstract
Despite the communality of the subject for small states, the three discussion leaders put forward different perspectives on the challenges of sovereignty in small states in an extremely lively and sometimes passionate session. Delegates viewed with concern the United Kingdom's suspension of the Turks and Caicos Islands' constitution and the removal of its democratically elected government. While mindful of the serious challenges facing the people of the Turks and Caicos prior to the U.K.'s intervention, delegates encouraged the U.K. government to make the restoration of democracy for the people of Turks and Caicos a demonstrated priority. The challenges to the ability of a state to govern itself were identified as size, geographical location, governance and constitutional arrangements. Could there be true sovereignty where many states have constitutions that are Orders-in-Council of the U.K. and the U.K. government reserves the power to suspend constitutions, as in the Turks and Caicos. The U.K. also retains the right to disallow certain laws, and tax and taxation can be changed by the OECD, UN, G8 and others, impacting on self-regulation and the creation of wealth. During discussion, the meeting also noted that piracy around the Seychelles damaged trade with important consequences. The vulnerability of small states to threats from stronger neighbours, such as the threats to the Falkland Islands from Argentina and to Gibraltar from Spain were recounted. Sovereignty must be respected and higher external authorities must help smaller threatened states. Discussions at a high level on the future of small states must include the small state concerned. International organizations should uphold their own stated values when they consider small threatened states. Interdependence today was seen is the way forward, but sovereignty cannot be described simply in political, legislative and economic terms. Environmental sovereignty regarding climate change and the protection of natural resources, and cultural sovereignty are also important elements. This led to a discussion on the values, national pride and soul of a community. It has become very difficult to distinguish between internal and external affairs, given the intense scrutiny of taxation. Small states have to consider whether independence, an increased international personality or joining a larger geographical entity offers viable solutions.
- Subjects
UNITED Kingdom; SOVEREIGNTY; POLITICAL science; DEMOCRACY; TAX laws
- Publication
Parliamentarian, 2010, Vol 91, Issue 4, p380
- ISSN
0031-2282
- Publication type
Article