Small states in the Pacific : sovereignty, vulnerability, and regionalism

Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs) contain some of the world’s smallest independent states, as well as territories in dependent relationships with other states, many of which exercise some aspects of ‘sovereign’ power. In this chapter we explore how PICTs use their sovereignty to guard against vulnerability, focusing on regional and international action around matters such as climate change, food security, and development. We argue that despite their small size, PICTs use their sovereignty, both individually and collectively, to influence larger global agendas and that such actions create opportunities for both independent and dependent PICTs to engage in subregional, regional, and international actions to advance their specific ʼnational’ interests.