Small States and The Regime of The Archipelago

This article examines the attitudes of “small states†in the formulation of principles which govern the conduct and behaviour of archipelagic states. In other words, it attempts to clarify the rules guiding the definition of the archipelagos in terms of their expected norms of behaviour regarding their national sovereignty, national interest, national defenses and security, given the uniqueness of their geopolitical realities. For the purposes of this research, “small states†constitute a constellation of Island States in the developing world, namely Fiji, Indonesia, Mauritius and the Philippines that have contributed significantly to the establishment of the regime of the archipelago. The research draws extensively from international experiences, contexts and precedents established by the decision of the International Court of Justice whose case serves as a frame of reference on which to test the legitimacy and application of international law principles on the problems and concepts of the archipelago. The study concludes that indigenous requirements and practical needs established on the basis of historic rights determine the attitude of the archipelagos on their territorial claims. Finally, the investigation found that on basic uncompromising issues and matters of national sovereignty and survival, customary practices take precedent over rules of International Law.