Statehood a la Carte in the Caribbean and the Pacific: Secession, Regionalism, and Postcolonial Politics

This book explores how leaders in the Caribbean and Pacific regions balance political self-determination with economic development by pursuing statehood à la carte, including secession and devolution. Downsizing is seen as a pragmatic response to the contradictions of coloniality, animated by similar ideas and motivations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 09 May 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This book delves into the intricate dynamics of leadership in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, where the challenge of balancing autonomy and viability in the context of postcolonial statehood is central. Political self-determination, often seen as a hollow achievement, becomes meaningful only when accompanied by economic development. Recognizing this, leaders in these regions have adopted a unique approach known as "statehood à la carte."

Previous research has explored various pathways to decolonial self-determination, including regionalism, internationalism, and the creation of non-sovereign alternatives. However, this book focuses on the pursuit of similar goals within the confines of the state, employing strategies such as secession and devolution.

It is commonly assumed that downsizing is antithetical to progressive, cosmopolitan internationalism and serves as evidence for the notion that the age of anticolonial self-determination has come to an end. In this book, Jack Corbett challenges this notion by demonstrating how these movements are driven by similar ideas and motivations that are made viable by the simultaneous pursuit of regional integration and forms of non-sovereignty.

Corbett argues that the à la carte approach to political and economic independence, whether pursued through, above, or below the state, and through non-sovereign alternatives, is a pragmatic response to the inherent contradictions of coloniality. By embracing a multifaceted strategy, leaders in the Caribbean and Pacific regions are able to navigate the complexities of postcolonial statehood and strive for a more inclusive and sustainable future.

This book offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between autonomy, viability, and statehood in the postcolonial world, shedding light on the strategies employed by leaders to achieve their goals and the challenges they face along the way. It is a must-read for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of power and governance in this region.

Weight: 612g
Dimension: 242 x 164 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192864246