Eastern Illinois University The Keep Masters Theses Student Theses & Publications 2004 Small-State Foreign Policy: An Analysis of Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Mauritius Thomas M. Ethridge Eastern Illinois University This research is a product of the graduate program in Political Science at Eastern Illinois University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Ethridge, Thomas M., "Small-State Foreign Policy: An Analysis of Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Mauritius" (2004). Masters Theses. 1325. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/1325 This is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses & Publications at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Ethridge THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Master of Arts IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS 2004 YEAR I HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THIS THESIS BE ACCEPTED AS FULFILLING THIS PART OF THE GRADUATE DEGREE CITED ABOVE t/11 /oy DATE ?J/11/01 DATE - I ABSTRACT Small-state foreign policy is often characterized by the types of alliances that form between small and large states. It is rarely disputed that small states fend for themselves in the global milieu that creates today's societies. Rather, the debate usually begins as to why small states seek strategic alliances with large states. This thesis, on the other hand, questions the very existence of small-state alliances by examining the foreign policy behavior of six small island states. The analysis begins with a quantitative breakdown of United Nation voting behaviors by five Pacific states­ Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, and Tuvalu. Next, a description of the policy behavior that these five states have demonstrated toward environmental issues is explained. Finally, in chapter four the island state of Mauritius, located in the Indian Ocean, is examined for its behavior on three specific issues of foreign policy. Ultimately, the conclusions tend to suggest that no discemable alliances are forming between the selected small states and some of the world's largest powers. Two principle reasons why this thesis suggests its findings to be true are because of the recent trend that small states have exhibited for participating in international organizations, and because of the eminent threat that issues such as global warming place on fragile island ecosystems. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to thank Dr. Ryan C. Hendrickson for his constant support toward the completion of this work. Serving as my thesis advisor, your encouragement has been immeasurable. Due to your academic advice and occasional verve suggestion, I am happy to call this work my own. In addition, I would like to express my thanks to Dr. David Carwell and Dr. Andrew McNitt for their participation as members on my thesis committee. The time you spent reading through drafts and making suggestions have proven to be extremely helpful. I would like to sincerely thank my entire committee. I also want to express extreme gratitude for the many family and friends who called or stopped by to ask about my progress and make sure that I was keeping on schedule. Without your thoughtfulness I would not have finished this project. In particular, I would like to thank Tom Gilbert, Bill Pedersen, Traci Reiter, as well as my parents and grandparents. TABLE OF CONTENTS IN"TRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW AND METHODOLOGY .......................... 6 Literature Review .......................................................................... 6 Methodology ............................................................................... 9 Strengths and Weaknesses ............................................................... 16 Explaining Small States ................................................................. 18 CHAPTER 2: SMALL-STATE VOTIN"G ALLIANCES AT THE U.N .................. 21 Introduction ............................................................................... 21 United Nations Voting Behavior ......................................................... 22 US-Cuban Relations ...................................................................... 23 Nuclear Weapons ......................................................................... 25 Territories/Colonial Issues .............................................................. 27 Human Rights ............................................................................ 28 Middle Eastern Conflicts ................................................................ 30 Combined Analysis ...................................................................... 32 Conclusion ................................................................................ 35 CHAPTER 3: THE ENVIRONMENT: SMALL-STATE FOREIGN POLICY AND IN"TERNA TIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ...................... 36 Introduction ............................................................................... 36 Alliance of Small Island States ......................................................... 38 The Kyoto Protocol. ..................................................................... 42 Pacific Island Forum ..................................................................... 50 Conclusion ................................................................................ 60 CHAPTER 4: THE FOREIGN POLICY OF A SMALL ISLAND STATE IN" THE INDIAN OCEAN ............................................................................ 63 Introduction ............................................................................... 63 History of Mauritius ...................................................................... 63 The Environment. ........................................................................ 65 Iraq ......................................................................................... 68 Diego Garcia .............................................................................. 71 Conclusion ................................................................................. 74 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION ................................................................... 76 REFERENCES ...................................................................................... 81 SMALL-STATE FOREIGN POLICY: AN ANALYSIS OF KIRIBATI, NAURU, PALAU, TONGA, TUVALU AND MAURITIUS INTRODUCTION The academic research concerning small-state foreign policy is quite extensive. In general, this literature suggests that acquiescent relationships usually exist in some form or another when small and large powers interact on a multinational level. Indeed, most analysts concur that small states align with major powers on issues of foreign policy. The purpose of this thesis, consequently, is to determine whether or not similar relationships might be occurring between small island states located in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and some of the world's major powers. In essence, this thesis analyzes the actual foreign policy behavior of six small island states in order to determine whether they are truly seeking alliances with larger states so that they can protect their vulnerabilities. The six small states being examined are (in alphabetical order): the Republic of Kiribati (hereafter Kiribati), Mauritius, the Republic of Nauru (hereafter Nauru), Palau, The Kingdom of Tonga (hereafter Tonga) and Tuvalu. The major powers are: Australia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. The regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans were chosen for analysis for four basic reasons. First, there is little scholarly research concerning the areas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and this represents an under-examined aspect for the study of international relations. Without a doubt, this lack of information necessitates further examination if foreign policy is to be better understood. Second, these regions were selected for their collective value. By taking previous theories of small-state foreign Ethridge policy and testing them against the policies of six island states, it should possible to determine the varying degrees to which such theories are accurate for some of the world's smallest powers. Third, all states included in this thesis were selected due to their growing membership in international organizations such as the United Nations. To be sure, the recent political activity by Mauritius as