miƩrcoles, 14 de marzo de 2007

Dominica

With few natural resources and a fledgling tourist industry, Dominica is attempting to reduce its reliance on bananas, traditionally its main export earner (BBC 2006p, par. 1). Dominica has never participated with any type of contribution in UN peacekeeping operations. Dominica, as well as many of the Caribbean and Pacific SIDS, faces threats different than armed conflicts. Thus, their domestic political environment is clearly defined in their foreign policy. On issues of security, Dominica participates in the Regional Security System which is mostly focused on issues of natural disasters such as hurricanes.

Initial variables of the data collection process:

UN/UN peacekeeping policy reform

Dominica is especially concerned about the UN efforts to solve the special needs and vulnerabilities of the SIDS. As a result, Dominica, as well as the other SIDS, work to make sure the international community designs international policy to benefit them as well.

Perception of peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is seen as something that is not part of Dominica’s agenda, for the same reasons mentioned above.

Domestic political environment
No record.

Domestic economic environment
Similar to Costa Rica, no need to engage on peacekeeping for economic purposes.

Military affairs
A police force of 300 is in charge of law and order. Dominica, along with Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is a member of the Regional Security System, established in 1985 (Thomson 2006d, par. 4). Defence from foreign attack would come from the US or UK (Ibid.).

Foreign policy
Dominica’s foreign policy is based on the needs of the SIDS concerning issues about environment (global warming), natural disasters, and economic development. Dominica became a member of the UN on December 18, 1978, and belongs to the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP), Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Group of 77 (G-77), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and the Commonwealth of Nations (Ibid., par. 1).

Also, “Dominica welcomes the particular attention given by the Outcome Document [of the High-level Plenary Meeting, primarily for the implementation of the Development Goals of the Millennium Summit] to the special needs and vulnerabilities of SIDS” (Gregoire 2005, par. 1). The permanent representative also addressed that “it is a source of great encouragement to us [people of Dominica] that the member states of the United Nations have demonstrated an appreciation for the challenges, which confront all SIDS” (Ibid.). This shows where the foreign policy agenda relies on.

In the same speech, the permanent representative stated that:

The Mauritius Strategy for the further implementation of the Barbados Program of Action is a realistic and attainable blueprint, which underscores the pivotal areas that require interventions to build the capacity of small island developing states to confront the various sustainable development challenges. We appreciate the support of our friends and development partners and appeal for their continuing commitment towards the proper and effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy. (Ibid., par. 3)

Additional variables found after the preliminary analysis:

Climate changes
Dominica is particularly concerned about the needs of small country islands, and in the case of climate change, the propensity of natural disasters (hurricanes) is part of their concern. But they are more interested on the whole economic development of small countries.

Independent negotiations taken by DPKO to seek troops
No record.

Independent negotiations taken by contributor countries to engage non-contributor countries
No record.

Meetings organized by other international organizations to engage in dialogue about peacekeeping
No record.