Though the European model is, to be sure, the most useful example for us in terms of lessons learned, including the occasional rap across the knuckles, the Greater Caribbean has to avoid mimicking any imported model that fails to recognize that, in this day and age, regional integration must be a multifaceted project that contemplates simultaneous decisions and actions in various fields of a country's political, economic, social and cultural life. It must also be noted that, though the European experience began as an economic and commercial experiment, the Union’s founders soon recognized the need for a more significant type of integration in order to address some of the imbalances inherent in the model.

Trade liberalization on its own, particularly in a region such as ours, with varying sizes and levels of economic development, is unsustainable in the absence of cooperation and (why not?) coordination in foreign policies, political harmonization and social, economic and cultural development.  Not only do we not have the benefit of a head start in terms of hundreds of years as Europe has over us, but we are saddled to this day with the historical baggage of our colonial and neo-colonial heritage which has, sadly, placed us with our backs turned to each other, looking for hope across the Ocean, instead of within our own Sea, when a Marshall Plan for the Caribbean is unlikely, nor would we wish to warrant one.

Comprehensive integration is the key to the economic and social development strategies of the countries of the region and of foreign economic and trade policies, as it reinforces their ability to take part effectively in the globalization process. As leaders become aware of the socio-political and cultural dimensions of integration, they have begun to voice their concerns at various international fora. This has become an important theme at regional and sub regional meetings in recent years and has broadened a political space that acknowledges the existence of differences and asymmetries and the need to overcome them, as well as the need to formulate clear common positions and strengthen dialogue and cooperation mechanisms at crucial fora, such as the Free Trade Association of the Americas and the World Trade Organization.

Just as, when formulating national policy governments must be mindful of looking out for the welfare of the most vulnerable by creating safety nets, our region’s leaders must also be aware of the dangers of wholesale trade liberalization in a socio-political vacuum. In such a scenario, the region’s asymmetries practically guarantee that just as in the example of the national level above, we run the risk of creating an underclass of nations in our region or, what’s worse, a region of the underclass within the international community.

In modern times it has been necessary for developing countries to “leapfrog” stages in different aspects of development. By insisting on comprehensive integration from the outset, both within our region and towards the rest of the international community, our countries would address two aspects regarding our insertion in the globalize world.

Mr. Luis Carpio is the Political Adviser of the Association of Caribbean States. The views expressed are not necessarily the official views of the ACS. Feedback can be sent to mail@acs-aec.org

05 April, 2005