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INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
ST. AUGUSTINE CAMPUS
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
MSc IN GLOBAL STUDIES
COURSE OUTLINE
INRL 6003
SMALL STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
Dr. Jacqueline Laguardia Martinez
Semester I
ACADEMIC YEAR 2020/2021
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Small States in the Global System
Dr. Jacqueline Laguardia Martinez
Office hours: Monday 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Course Description
Small States in the Global System (INRL 6003) analyses the main political and socioeconomic dynamics of the ‘small states’ in relation with its performance in the international system. Small states have been observed to be different from their larger neighbors in economic structure and domestic policy-making frameworks. At the same time, small states are exposed to unalike menaces and face dissimilar challenges. Such differences incite the study of the behavior and role of small states. The course deals with questions such as: What is a small state? How small states behave differently from larger ones? How influential are smaller states in the international system? How do small states face transnational challenges as irregular migration or communicable diseases?
The course offers an introduction to the literature on small-state studies. Taking into account the growing recognition of the specific challenges small states face nowadays, the course examines the distinctive strategies small states follow in order to cope with global phenomena without abandoning the pursue of social and economic development. The course emphasizes on the opportunities and constraints facing small states, i.e. how they are affected by and have responded to the processes of regional integration and climate change, as well as to an increasingly globalized world and other domestic and international dares.
The course covers a perfect interdisciplinary topic, touching on history, political economy and international relations.
The methodology includes a combination of core issues from International Relations (IR) and International Political Economy (IPE), which will introduce students to the key events and emerging trends that contribute to build an informed understanding of the nature of relations of small states with the rest of the world.
mailto:[email protected]
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The course is divided into six main topics. The first theme of the course [What is ‘Small’] presents an overview of the literature on small states and the different approaches proposed for their study. The following topics [Small States in the International System, Climate Change and SIDS, Development Strategies, Regionalism and Integration, and Small States in a Globalized World] explores major worldwide relevant issues and their impacts on small states as well as their responses and adaptation strategies.
Course Rationale
The main purpose of the course is to provide students with an update overview of contemporary issues and challenges that small states face as actors of the international system. The students will gain a comprehensive view of the small states key characteristics and diversity and will identify key issues that determine small states behavior. Emphasis is stressed on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Regardless of whether students intend to go into public service, the private sector or pursue an academic career, they can develop meaningful skills by taking this course. Students need to know how to read for content, how to synthesize and integrate literatures, how to write summaries with both a critical and analytical eye, how to collaborate with others, how to express opinions and lead discussions, and how to give formal presentations. A secondary goal of this course is to develop skills in all these areas.
Course Aims
The primary aim of the course is to encourage the students to think critically about small states ̓ definitions and the Caribbean territories condition as small states; gain an understanding of the current challenges small states face in an increasingly globalized international system; foster analytical skills to evaluate small states’ responses to specific vulnerabilities and hazards and deepen their knowledge of the development strategies small states implement according their particular nature, possibilities and needs.
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UWI Graduate Outcomes
1. A critical and creative thinker;
2. An effective communicator with good interpersonal skills;
3. IT-skilled and information literate;
4. Globally aware and well-grounded in his/her regional identity;
5. Socially, culturally and environmentally responsible and guided by strong ethical values
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Contrast different definitions of small states and the rationale behind them;
2. justify small states’ performance according International Relations’ theories;
3. evaluate small states’ opportunities and challenges when doing Foreign Policy;
4. analyze Small Island Developing States (SIDS) environmental vulnerabilities;
5. formulate development strategies implemented by small states;
6. revise small states’ regional organizations and institutions;
7. debate small states’ key challenges in the current period of globalization; and
8. critique on the SDGs in the context of small states’ developing strategies
Assessments
Formative and summative assessment strategies will be used in this course. As part of the summative assessment there are oral presentations and discussions based on articles reviews, two individual essays and quizzes. Formative assessment will be conducted using mix of clicker questions and in class discussions.
The activities are intended to encourage students’ self-reflection through all the course. Students will received feedback every time an assessment activity is conducted.
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Assessments Weighting (%) Assessment Description Assessment
Length Article reviews 30
(5 per article)
Students will be assigned six (6) main readings to review individually during the course, to be presented and discussed with the rest of the class. Accompanying each presentation must be one Powerpoint file to be emailed to myself by 4.00 pm the day before the presentation. The Powerpoint file will be shared with the rest of the students. Students are required to comment and ask questions about the article.
@15 minutes
Coursework essays 50 (25 per essay)
Students will be required to write two essays. First essay could be based on topics 1, 2 and 3 while the second essay could be based on topics 4, 5 and 6. Essays will be submitted via MyElearning and by email. The deadline for the submission of the first coursework essay is Friday October 16, 2020. The deadline for the submission of second coursework essay is Friday December 4, 2020.
4,000 words (± 5%)
Online quizzes, discussions and participation in class
20 (10 for
quizzes)
Students must attend a minimum of 90% of class (ZOOM sessions) and actively participate in discussions, article revisions and online activities.
All the Semester
Teaching strategies
The course is designed as a 100% online course. The course is structured as follows:
• Pre-recorded lectures (asynchronous online teaching).
• Formal classes delivered by ZOOM (synchronous online teaching).
• Online activities (asynchronous and synchronous online learning).
On Mondays, students will be provided with a general overview of each topic via the pre-recorded lecture (available via MyElearning and Google Drive). On Wednesdays, online sessions will be conducted via ZOOM starting with a set of clicker questions/quizzes to assess students’ understanding of the pre-recorded lecture.
Students are required to prepare oral presentations based on their individual review of selected and present on Wednesday’s online sessions for collective review and discussion.
The main online platforms to employ in the course are ZOOM, Google Drive and MyElearning.
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Content
Topic 1. What is ‘Small’?
1. Defining Small States
2. Small States in International Relations Theory
Topic 2. Small States in the International System
1. Small States Foreign Policy
2. Norm entrepreneurs: the European case
Topic 3. Climate Change and SIDS
1. Vulnerability and resilience
2. Climate change impacts on Small States
Topic 4. Development Strategies for Small States
1. The MIRAB Model and the Singapore ‘Paradox’
2. Caribbean SIDS Development Strategies
Topic 5. Regionalism and Integration
1. Small States in regional integration schemes: the Latin American case
2. Small States in regional integration schemes: the Caribbean case
Topic 6. Small States in a Globalized World
1. Small States and the SDGs
2. Cultural Identity and Creative Economy
3. Transnational challenges: migration, security, communicable diseases
Resources
There is no required book for this course. Most resources will be available as virtual documents and media, including articles at the library database of IIR and UWI.
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Topic 1. What is ‘Small’?
1. Armstrong, W. and R. Read, ‘Small States, Islands and Small States that are also Islands’, Studies in Regional Science, 2002 Volume 33 Issue 1, pp. 237-260
2. Baldacchino, Godfrey. ‘Mainstreaming the study of small states and territories’, Small States & Territories, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2018, pp. 3-16
3. Crowards, Tom. ‘Defining The Category Of ‘Small’ States’, Journal of International Development, 2002
4. Katzenstein, P. J. ‘Small States and Small States Revisited’, New Political Economy, 8, 1, 2003.
5. Lee, Donna and Nicola J. Smith, ‘Small State Discourses in the International Political Economy’, Third World Quarterly, 31:7, 2010, pp. 1091-1105
6. Maass, Matthias. ‘The elusive definition of the small state’, International Politics Vol. 46, 2009, pp. 65-83
7. Max Everest-Phillips. ‘Small, So Simple?, Complexity in Small Island Developing States’, 2014 UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence
8. Rabby, Md. Fazle. ‘Small states in international relations: rearranging the puzzle of defining the ‘Small State’, Foreign Affairs Insights & Review, 2015
9. Sutton, Paul. ‘The Concept of Small States in the International Political Economy’, The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs Publication, 2011
10. Thorhallsson, Baldur. ‘Studying small states: A review’. Small States & Territories, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2018, pp. 17-34
Topic 2. Small States in the International System
1. Bauböck, R. ‘A Multilevel Theory of Democratic Secession’, Ethnopolitics, 18:3, 2019, pp. 227-246.
2. Browning, C. S. ‘Small, Smart and Salient? Rethinking Identity in the Small States Literature’, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Volume 19, Number 4, December 2006.
3. Byron, J. ‘Relations with the European Union and the United Kingdom Post- BREXIT: Perspectives from the Caribbean’, in La Caraïbe dans le partenariat stratégique euro-latino-américain UE-CELAC, E. Dubesset and C. Quenan (eds.), 2019, pp. 209 – 228.
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4. Chong, A. ‘The Foreign Policy Potential Of “Small State Soft Power’ Information Strategies, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Volume 23, 2010, Issue 3.
5. Jazbec, M. ‘Small States and Diplomacy: An Indispensable, though Much Diversified Relation’, Halduskultuur – Administrative Culture 11 (1), 2010, pp. 66-83.
6. Kassimeris, C. ‘The Foreign Policy of Small Powers’, International Politics, 46, 1, 2009.
7. Nilaus Tarp, M. and J. O. Bach Hansen, ‘Size and Influence. How small states influence policy making in multilateral arenas’, DIIS Working Paper.
8. Okunev, I. Statehood and Stateness in Small States, Paper for the 6th ECPR General Conference, Reykjavik, 25-27.08. 2011.
9. Panke, D. The Influence of Small States in the EU: Structural Disadvantages and Counterstrategies, UCD, Dublin European Institute Working Paper 08-3, May 2008.
10. Scheldrup, M. ‘Lilliputian Choice: Explaining Small State’, Foreign Policy Variation Spring 2014.
11. Vital, D. ‘The Inequality of States: A Study of the Small Powers in International Relations’, Small States in International Relations, (ed. Christine Ingebritsen), University of Washington Press, 2006, pp. 77-88.
12. Wettenhall, R. ‘A journey through small state governance’, Small States & Territories, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2018, pp. 111-128.
13. Vlcek, W. ‘A level playing field and the space for small states’, Journal of International Relations and Development, 2009.
Topic 3. Climate Change and SIDS
1. Beardsworth, R. ‘Climate science, the politics of climate change and futures of IR’, International Relations, 2020 (0), pp. 1– 17.
2. Betzold, C. ‘Borrowing’ Power to Influence International Negotiations: AOSIS in theClimate Change Regime, 1990–1997ponl_ 131..148, POLITICS: 2010 Vol. 30(3), pp. 131–148.
3. Bernard, G. St. Measuring social vulnerability in Caribbean states, 8th SALISES Annual Conference Crisis, Chaos and Change: Caribbean Development Challenges in the 21st Century, March, 2007.
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4. Bishop, M. L. and A. Payne ‘Climate Change and the Future of Caribbean Development’, Journal of Development Studies, 48, 10, 2012.
5. Deitelhoff, N. and Wallbott. ‘Beyond soft balancing: small states and coalition-building in the ICC and climate negotiations’, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Volume 25, Number 3, September 2012.
6. Kelman, I., Gaillard, J.C. and Mercer, ‘Climate Change’s Role in Disaster Risk Reduction’s Future: Beyond Vulnerability and Resilience’, International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, March 2015, Volume 6, Issue 1, pp. 6: 21.
7. Kelman, I. and J. J. West, ‘Climate Change and Small Island Developing States: A Critical Review’, Ecological and Environmental Anthropology, 2009, Vol. 5, No. 1.
8. Lacascade, J.Y. and R. Laureano-Ortiz. ‘Caribbean Climate Paradiplomacy of the European Union’s Overseas Regions and Territories: Towards an Insertion in Regionwide Cooperation within the Context of the EU-CELAC Partnership’, in La Caraïbe dans le partenariat stratégique euro-latino-américain UE-CELAC, Éric Dubesset and Carlos Quenan (eds.), 2019 pp. 261- 276
9. Malatesta, S. ‘International actors as policymakers? Discussing the influence of international actors on the environmental policies of small island states’, Small States & Territories, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2018, pp. 95-110
10. Pulwarty, R. S., Nurse and Trotz ‘Caribbean Islands in a Changing Climate’, Environment:Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 52, 6, 2010
11. Scobie, M. ‘The 2014 Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States: Regional Preparations and Perspectives’, Caribbean Journal of International Relations & Diplomacy, Vol. 1, No. 3, September 2013: pp.31-45
12. Singh, A. ‘Environmental Governance in Small Island Developing States’, Anuario de Integración 10 | Año 2014.
Topic 4. Development Strategies for Small States
1. Baldacchino, G. and Bertram ‘The Beak of the Finch: Insights into the Economic Development of Small Economies’, The Round Table, 98, 401, 2009.
2. Bertram, G. The MIRAB Model in the 21st Century, Asia Pacific Viewpoint, Vol. 47, No. 1, April 2006, pp 1–13.
3. Briguglio, L. et al., Toward an Outward-Oriented Development Strategy for Small States: Issues, Opportunities, and Resilience Building. A Review of the Small States Agenda Proposed in the Commonwealth/World Bank Joint Task Force Report of April 2000, August 8, 2006.
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4. Chowdhury, A. ‘Growth Oriented Macroeconomic Policies for Small Islands Economies. Lessons from Singapore’, Research Paper No. 2008/47, April 2008.
5. Girvan, N. ‘The Caribbean in a Turbulent World’, in Gordon et al. (eds) Inter-American Cooperation at a Crossroads: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
6. Gomes, C. The case of Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean: The challenge of building resilience, ECLAC, 3 April 2014.
7. Griffith, W.H., ‘Caricom Countries and the Irrelevance of Economic Smallness’, Third World Quarterly. 28, 5, 2007.
8. Guillaumont, P. ‘Assessing the Economic Vulnerability of Small Island Developing States and the Least Developed Countries’, Journal of Development Studies, 45, 5, 2010.
9. Oberst, A. and J. L. McElroy, Contrasting Socio-Economic and Demographic Profiles of Two, Small Island, Economic Species: MIRAB versus PROFIT/SITE, ‘Island Studies Journal’, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2007, pp. 163-176.
10. Verweij, M. and R. Pelizzo (2009), 'Singapore: Does Authoritarianism Pay?', Journal of Democracy, Volume 20, Number 2, April, pp. 18-32.
Topic 5. Regionalism and Integration
1. Bishop, M. L. and Payne ‘Caribbean Regional Governance and the Sovereignty/Statehood Problem’ CIGI Caribbean Paper No 8, 2009.
2. Coordinadora Regional de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (CRIES), El regionalismo “post–liberal” en América Latina y el Caribe: Nuevos actores, nuevos temas, nuevos desafíos, Anuario 9, 2012.
3. Lewis, V. A. What Purposes for CARICOM Integration Today?, paper read as the Third Sir Arthur Lewis Lecture in the University of the West Indies, St Augustine’s 2008 Nobel Laureate Celebrations, on 15th April 2008.
4. Mohammed, D. ‘Size and Competitiveness: An Examination of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), The Round Table, 97, 395, 2008.
5. Muzaka, V. and M. L. Bishop, Doha stalemate: The end of trade multilateralism? Review of International Studies.
6. Ramsaran, R and R Hosein. ‘CARICOM: Some Salient Factors Affecting Trade and Competitiveness’, The Round Table, 97, 396, 2008.
7. Read, R. ‘The Implications of Increasing Globalization and Regionalism for the Economic Growth of Small Island States’, World Development. 32, 2, 2004.
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Topic 6. Small States in a Globalized World
1. Adger, W. Neil. ‘Climate Change, Human Well-Being and Insecurity’, New Political Economy, 15:2, 275-292, 2010.
2. Areng, L. ‘Lilliputian States In Digital Affairs And Cyber Security’, Tallinn Paper No. 4., 2014.
3. Bailes, A. JK. Non-Military Security Challenges For Small States: A Framework for Policy Analysis, Reykjavik, August 2011.
4. Chaitoo, R. The Entertainment Sector in CARICOM. Key Challenges and Proposals for Action, Inter-American Development Bank, Technical Note, No. IDB-TN-514, April 2013.
5. Dubrie A. and others, “Synthesis of the Caribbean subregion midterm review report of the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway”, Studies and Perspectives series- ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, No. 83 (LC/TS.2019/117- C/CAR/TS.2019/6), Santiago, ECLAC, 2019.
6. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) The 2030 Agenda and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2016.
7. Girvan, N. Caribbean integration: can cultural production succeed where politics and economics have failed? (Confessions of a Wayward Economist), presentation at The Colloquium, “The Caribbean That Unites Us”, Festival del Caribe, Santiago de Cuba, 5 July 2012.
8. Hendrickson, M. et al., ‘Creative industries in the Caribbean: a new road for diversification and export growth’, ECLAC – Studies and Perspectives series – The Caribbean – No. 19, Port of Spain, July 2012.
9. Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). LAC post COVID-19: challenges and opportunities, 2020.
10. Kelman, I. 2006. ‘Island Security and Disaster Diplomacy in the Context of Climate Change’, Les Cahiers de la Sécurité, vol. 63, pp. 61-94.
11. Kelman, I., Difficult decisions: Migration from Small Island Developing States under climate change, 8 April 2015.
12. Nurse, K. The Creative Sector in CARICOM: The Economic and Trade Policy Dimensions, prepared for CARICOM Secretariat, July 2009.
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13. Rabellotti, R. and E. Giuliani, Clusters in the Caribbean. Understanding their Characteristics, Defining Policies for their Development, Discussion Paper N.IDB-DP-498, March 2017.
14. Stojanov R. et al. ‘Contextualising typologies of environmentally induced population movement’, Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 23 Issue 5, 2014, pp. 508 – 523.
15. Throsby, D. ‘Development Strategies for Pacific Island Economies: Is There a Role for the Cultural Industries?’, Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 370–382.
16. Upadhyay, et al. ‘Conceptualizing and contextualizing research and policy for links between climate change and migration’, International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Vol. 7 Iss 3, 2015, pp. 394 – 417.
Additional information
Students are expected to attend at all classes and engage in active participation in class discussions and oral presentations and submit the two coursework assignments.
Students will be required and encouraged to develop a significant level of familiarity with politics, foreign policy, economics and recent history as well as key issues affecting small states. This will be achieved largely by reading the core and specific texts according to subject areas and keeping apprised of political and economic developments and other issues in alternative news media and publications. These readings can provide the topics for coursework assignments and class presentations.
Plagiarism is a serious offence and any form of academic dishonesty will result in action being taken against the student in keeping with the University’s regulations.
In relation with the accommodations for students with disabilities, students should refer to the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus, Student Disability policy https://sta.uwi.edu/resources/policies/Student_Disability.pdf
Policy on extensions and missed deadlines
Requests for extensions will be only considered in cases of genuine emergency. To ensure the smooth progression of the course, the maximum extension allowed will be one week for essays. In case a coursework essay is submitted late without and agreed extension, students will receive a maximum mark of 50%. There are no allowed extension for quizzes.
https://sta.uwi.edu/resources/policies/Student_Disability.pdf
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Grading system
1. Oral presentations
The criteria will be used to grade the oral presentation of article reviews. Keep in mind that the score requirement described under each point outlines the minimum performance that must be demonstrated in order to achieve that score. The maximum grade received for each presentation will top 5 points.
CRITERIA PERFORMANCE LEVELS Total
(5) Excellent Very Good Good Satisfactory
Organization & delivery
Analysis clear, comprehensive and detailed; informed evaluation; animated and lively presentation; adequate visual and other aids.
Analysis generally comprehensive and detailed; commentary strong; evaluation informed; strong presentation; used visuals, but not always appropriately and adequately
Examination of key elements/ structures undertaken – contains generalizations and some gaps; limited and/or poor use of visual aids
Some examination of key elements/ structures; evaluation reasoned and evidenced reflection underdeveloped; no visual aids/or visual aids improperly used
1.5
Summarizes the context and content of the selected article/topic
Provides a very thorough and clear and concise summary of the article/topic context and content.
Provides a clear and concise summary of the article/topic context and content.
Provides a clear but shallow summary of the article/topic; may be excessively brief or may include some extraneous information.
Provides a somewhat muddled, unclear and rambling summary of the article/topic.
2
Identifies and describes personal/collective reaction to the article/topic
Thoroughly describes your personal reaction to the article/topic; includes discussion of the relevant issues within the article/topic.
Describes your personal reaction to the article/topic; includes a simplistic discussion of the relevant issues within the article/topic.
Describes your personal reaction to the article/topic; includes no discussion of the relevant issues within the article/topic.
Attempts to describe your personal reaction to the article/topic, but lacks a logical flow and reaction is muddled; no discussion of any relevant issues in the article/topic.
1
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Use of time Started promptly; completed presentation within the specified timeframe
Started promptly somewhat rushed at the end.
Hesitant start; somewhat rushed or too much time to spare
Delayed start; too rushed or too much time wasted
0.5
2. Coursework Essays
The criteria will be used to grade the coursework essays. Keep in mind that the score requirement described under each point outlines the minimum performance that must be demonstrated in order to achieve that score. The maximum grade received for each essay will top 25 points, for a total contribution of 50% of the final grade.
CRITERIA PERFORMANCE LEVELS Total
CE
(25)
Excellent Very Good Good Satisfactory Weak
Introduction & Interpretation
Introduction shows a sound grasp of the assignment brief and provides a clear outline of the scope of the essay; key issues stated; provides a framework for answering the question.
Introduction shows a reasonably good grasp of the key issues; clear framework for answering the question.
Perfunctory or overlong intro; framework is present but unclear.
The topic is not well introduced; scope of the essay poorly defined.
Launched straight into the essay with little or no attempt to introduce and define topic; purpose of assignment misunderstood.
4
Development/ Quality of Argument
Develops logical argument and clearly marshals the relevant ideas and evidence and their strengths and weaknesses.
Ideas are logically and clearly developed.
Some aspects of argument are weak.
Poor or inappropriate organization and sequencing of material; clear theme or line of argument not developed.
Major weaknesses in argument or argument not discernible.
5
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Use of Evidence/ Sources
Critical and wide ranging use of relevant literature backed up by good bibliography; evidence well evaluated; connections have been made between evidence and the framework of the question.
Critical and wide range use of relevant literature backed up by a good bibliography
Some of the sources and material are relevant to the topic.
Inclusion of some irrelevant or unlinked material.
Little evidence of supporting reading that shows inadequate preparation.
5
Understanding of Topic
Well-argued exposition of the topic; all main issues have been explored and evaluated.
Reasonable grasp of the topic and most of the main issues have been explored; evidence of critical evaluation.
Most of the main issues in relation to the topic have been explored; evidence of some analysis.
Few issues have been explored; little evidence of analysis and critical evaluation.
The work is rather descriptive; tendency to accept views with little analysis/ criticism.
5
Presentation
Correct and effective use of English; accurate referencing.
No problems with grammar; minor spelling errors; good use of English.
Few spelling errors; some minor errors in grammar, syntax.
Several intrusive spelling errors and many errors in grammar, syntax.
So many intrusive errors in spelling grammar and syntax that reading is difficult.
3
Conclusion
The conclusion draws together the strands of the argument; it creates a coherent perspective on the question and indicates links to related deep issues; it is based on the argument and evidence presented.
A good clear concluding section that draws together the various important points made.
There is a rather brief and formalized conclusion to the essay.
Conclusion merely rephrases the introduction.
Little or no conclusion or conclusion is not based on the argument and evidence in the essay.
3
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