A Future for Small States: Overcoming Vulnerability

This report provides an analysis of key issues concerning small states' security and development. It sets out a series of recommendations to counteract vulnerability arising from such factors as globalization, environmental degradation and global warming, and international crime. The report recognises the importance of regional organizations and international fora in enhancing small states' security.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by the Commonwealth Secretary-General Letter of Presentation Executive Summary and Recommendations 1. Introduction Terms of Reference The Insecurity of Small States The Structure of the Report 2. Smallness and Vulnerability Definition The Characteristics of Small States The Concept of Vulnerability Size and Vulnerability 3. The Threat Scenario The Definition of Threat and National Security The Range of Security Threats to Small States: Threats to territorial security, Threats to political security, Threats to economic security, Environmental threats, Threats to social cohesion Threats and Vulnerability 4. The Economic Consequences of Smallness Economic Consequences of Small Economic Size: Trade openness, Commodity export concentration, Dependence on foreign resource flows, Limited capacity to manage the economic environment, High international transport costs The Recent Economic Performance of Small States 5. The Economic Dimension: Analysis The Effects of Globalisation: Trade, Financial markets and capital flows, New communications technologies and their impact, The role of the private sector Trends in Regionalisation: The Lome Convention, The Caribbean, The South Pacific, The Indian Ocean, Africa, The Mediterranean Small States and Regionalisation Assessment 5. The Economic Dimension: Response and Recommendations Trade Policies and Preferences: Bananas and sugar, Beef, Rice, Textiles and clothing, Other products, other issues, Overall assessment Commercial and Marketing Policies Aid Policies and Resource Mobilisation Recommendations: Trade policy, Marketing policy, Resource mobilisation, Reform and the private sector 7. The Environmental Dimension: Analysis Environmental Vulnerability External Risks: Natural disasters, Vulnerability to sea-level rise, Vulnerability to extreme events, Marine pollution Internal Risks: Deforestation, Desertification and soil erosion, Water, Fishing, Tourism Ecological Fragility Vulnerability and Sustainability: Sustainability indicators, Capital stocks 8. The Environment: Response and Recommendations The Special Problems of SIDS: Reacting to sea-level rise, Natural and environmental disasters, Sustainable tourism development, Financial resources Macroeconomics and the environment: Macropolicy reform Demonstrating and Capturing Environmental Value: Demonstrating economic value: resource accounting, Capturing economic value: pricing the environment, Capturing global values, Global environment facility Other Innovative Sources of Finance Sectoral Policy Recommendations 9. The Political Dimension: Analysis The Caribbean The South Pacific The Indian Ocean The Mediterranean Africa Assessment 10. The Political Dimension: Response and Recommendations The National Level: Enforcement capabilities, Social integrity, Policy capacity Bilateral Arrangements Regional Security: The Caribbean, The South Pacific, The Indian Ocean, South Africa, Nuclear Weapon Free Zones Recommendations 11. National Measures to Enhance Security Through Capacity Building Human Capital: Education, Women and development Social Capital: Employment, Empowerment, Social integration Investing in Technology Capacity-Building in Small States: The Commonwealth Experience 12. Enhancing the Role of Small States in the International System The Position of Small States in the Global Context International Law The World Trade Organization The United Nations The Commonwealth Recommendations References Annex: Recommendations of the 1985 Vulnerability Report Members of the Advisory Group Abbreviations Index