Gerard Prinsen of Massey University discussing “Islandian sovereignty” in Islands Matter Webinar on Thursday 17 February at 12pm
Islands Matter Webinar Series 'Small and smart in six strategies: Non-sovereign island territories achieving Islandian sovereignty' with Gerard Prinsen of Massey University, New Zealand
The next Islands Matter Webinars is at 12pm on the 17th Feburary 2022
Of the world’s 120 Sub-National Island Jurisdictions listed, about 50 are former colonies whose communities retain constitutional bonds with their former colonial metropoles: London, Paris, Washington, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Canberra, Wellington. The communities of these 50 non-sovereign island territories struggle to decolonise the relationships with their metropoles. However, since 1983, none have moved to become independent, sovereign, states. In fact, in the course of time, most became quite successful in continuously rebalancing the relationships with their former colonial metropoles to their advantage; creating what has been labelled an “Islandian sovereignty”. In this webinar for the Islands Matter Series, Gerard will, first, detail six strategies applied by these non-sovereign island territories to expand their autonomy. Second, Gerard will invite webinar participants to explore to what extent these six strategies are relevant for other Sub-National Island Jurisdictions.
Gerard Prinsen works as an Associate Professor in Development Studies at Massey University New Zealand, after a professional career in development practice. Most of his research revolves around health and education services as spaces where small, rural, or remote communities negotiate their relationships with big metropolitan powers.
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