West Indies Associated States was the collective name for a number of islands in the Eastern Caribbean whose status changed from being British colonies to states in free association with the United Kingdom in 1967. These states were Antigua , Dominica , Grenada , Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla , Saint Lucia , and Saint Vincent .
26-567: Associated statehood between these six territories and the UK was brought about by the West Indies Act 1967 (c. 4). Under the act each state had full control over its constitution (and thus internal self-government), while the UK retained responsibility for external affairs and defence . The British monarch remained head of state , but the Governor now had only constitutional powers, and
52-449: A constitutional amendment. Of all of these islands that were once associated states, all are now independent, except for Anguilla within the former St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, which is still a British Overseas Territory . Foreign policy Foreign policy , also known as external policy , is the set of strategies and actions a state employs in its interactions with other states, unions, and international entities. It encompasses
78-479: A crucial role in its development. The objectives of foreign policy are diverse and interconnected, contributing to a comprehensive approach for each state. Defense and security are often primary goals, with states forming military alliances and employing soft power to combat threats. Economic interests, including trade agreements and foreign aid, are central to a country's role in the global economy. Additionally, many states have developed humanitarian programs based on
104-491: A different precedence than other ambassadors. The diplomatic corps may also cooperate amongst themselves on a number of matters, including certain dealings with the host government. In practical terms, the doyen of the diplomatic corps may have a role to play in negotiating with local authorities regarding the application of aspects of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and diplomatic immunity , such as
130-417: A role in a country's foreign policy. In a democracy , public opinion and the methods of political representation both affect a country's foreign policy. Democratic countries are also believed to be less likely to resort to military conflict with one another. Autocratic states are less likely to use legalism in their foreign policies. Under a dictatorship , a state's foreign policy may depend heavily on
156-520: A single, comprehensive foreign policy for each state. Unlike domestic policy, foreign policy issues often arise suddenly in response to developments and major events in foreign countries. Foreign policy is often directed for the purpose of ensuring national security . Governments forming military alliances with foreign states in order to deter and show stronger resistance to attack. Foreign policy also focuses on combating adversarial states through soft power , international isolation , or war . In
182-434: A wide range of objectives, including defense and security, economic benefits, and humanitarian assistance. The formulation of foreign policy is influenced by various factors such as domestic considerations, the behavior of other states, and geopolitical strategies. Historically, the practice of foreign policy has evolved from managing short-term crises to addressing long-term international relations, with diplomatic corps playing
208-521: Is the collective body of foreign diplomats accredited to a particular country or body. The diplomatic corps may, in certain contexts, refer to the collection of accredited heads of mission ( ambassadors , high commissioners , nuncios and others) who represent their countries in another state or country. As a body, they usually only assemble to attend state functions like a coronation , inauguration , national day or State Opening of Parliament , depending on local custom. They may also assemble in
234-696: The Caribbean Community ). Cooperation between the eastern Caribbean states continued after the West Indies Associated States achieved separate independence, in the form of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (the successor organisation). *Anguilla left the Union of St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla officially on 29 October 1980 and remained a British territory, leaving St Kitts and Nevis to achieve independence within
260-478: The 18th century, due to extreme turbulence in European diplomacy and ongoing conflicts, the practice of diplomacy was often fragmented by the necessity to deal with isolated issues, termed "affairs". Therefore, while domestic management of such issues was termed civil affairs (peasant riots, treasury shortfalls, and court intrigues), the term foreign affairs was applied to the management of temporary issues outside
286-429: The 21st century, defensive foreign policy has expanded to address the threat of global terrorism . Foreign policy is central for a country's role within the world economy and international trade . Economic foreign policy issues may include the establishment of trade agreements , the distribution of foreign aid, and the management of imports and exports . Many states have developed humanitarian programs under
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#1732768379534312-558: The Commonwealth. Over time, the associated states moved to full independence, the first being Grenada in 1974. This was followed by Dominica in 1978, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent both in 1979, Antigua and Barbuda in 1981 and Saint Kitts and Nevis in 1983. The moves towards independence were not always smooth, with separatist movements/campaigns occurring in Barbuda , Nevis and Anguilla . In Anguilla, this resulted in
338-438: The concept of the responsibility to protect . Proponents of liberal internationalism believe that it is the duty of stronger and more well-off countries to assist and support less powerful countries. This idea is often associated with the idealist school of thought. Liberal internationalist support can take the form of defensive or economic support. Superpowers are able to project power and exercise their influence across
364-401: The development of foreign policy proposals, alternatives to existing policy, or to provide analytical assessments of evolving relationships. Several objectives may motivate a government's foreign policy. Foreign policy may be directed for defense and security, for economic benefit, or to provide assistance to states that need it. All foreign policy objectives are interconnected and contribute to
390-747: The government bargaining model that posits the foreign policy apparatus as several competing interests, and the organizational process model that posits the foreign policy apparatus as interlinked bureaucracies that each play their own role. Think tanks exist that study foreign policy specifically, including the Council on Foreign Relations in the United States and the Chatham House in the United Kingdom. Diplomatic corps The diplomatic corps ( French : corps diplomatique )
416-682: The heads and the foreign members of the country offices of major international organizations ( United Nations agencies, the European Union , the International Committee of the Red Cross , agencies of the African Union , etc.) are considered members—and granted the rights and privileges—of the diplomatic corps. Diplomatic vehicles in most countries have distinctive diplomatic license plates , often with
442-528: The official or dominant religion, the apostolic nuncio (the diplomatic representative of the Holy See ) serves as doyen by virtue of his office, regardless of seniority; in other cases, the nuncio is treated as an ordinary ambassador of the Holy See and has no special precedence. The Congress of Vienna and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provided that any country may choose to give nuncios
468-426: The preferences of the dictator. Dictators that interfere significantly with their foreign policy apparatus may be less predictable and more likely to make foreign policy blunders. The study of foreign policy considers why and how states interact with one another and maintain relations. Several schools of thought exist in the study of foreign policy, including the rational actor model based on rational choice theory ,
494-623: The prefix or suffix CD , the abbreviation for the French corps diplomatique . In most countries, the longest-serving ambassador to a country is given the title Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps ( French : Doyen du Corps Diplomatique ). The doyen is often accorded a high position in the order of precedence . In New Zealand , for example, the doyen takes precedence over figures such as the deputy prime minister and former governors-general . In many countries that have Catholicism as
520-436: The responsibility to protect, supporting less powerful countries through various forms of assistance. The study of foreign policy examines the reasons and methods behind state interactions, with think tanks and academic institutions providing research and analysis to inform policy decisions. The idea of long-term management of relationships followed the development of professional diplomatic corps that managed diplomacy . In
546-550: The royal or presidential palace to give their own head of state 's New Year greeting to the head of state of the country in which they are based. The term is sometimes confused with the collective body of diplomats from a particular country—the proper term for which is diplomatic service . The diplomatic corps is not always given any formal recognition by its host country, but can be referenced by official orders of precedence . In many countries, and especially in Africa,
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#1732768379534572-411: The secession of Anguilla from Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla in 1969 and its reversion to British rule as a separate colony. During the 1970s, Nevis' local council wished to follow Anguilla's example, rather than become independent with Saint Kitts; however, the UK was opposed to Nevis becoming a separate colony and eventually the federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis became independent in 1983. In Barbuda, there
598-574: The sovereign realm. This term remained in widespread use in the English-speaking states into the 20th century, and remains the name of departments in several states that manage foreign relations. Although originally intended to describe short term management of a specific concern, these departments now manage all day-to-day and long-term international relations among states. Think tanks are occasionally employed by government foreign relations organizations to provide research and advocacy in
624-716: The world, while great powers and middle powers have moderate influence in global affairs. Small powers have less ability to exercise influence unilaterally, as they have fewer economic and military resources to leverage. As a result, they are more likely to support international and multilateral organizations. The diplomatic bureaucracies of smaller states are also smaller, which limits their capacity to engage in complex diplomacy. Smaller states may seek to ally themselves with larger countries for economic and defensive benefits, or they may avoid involvement in international disputes so as to remain on friendly terms with all countries. The political institutions and forms of government play
650-617: Was a campaign for separate independence from Antigua, but this was unsuccessful. All former associated states went on to keep the British monarchy and became Commonwealth realms, with the exception of Dominica from 1978. All former associated states also kept the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the highest court of appeal, with the exception of Dominica, which abolished it as the final court of appeal in 2015 with
676-698: Was often a local citizen. Many moved to change their flags from modified versions of the Blue Ensign to unique designs, with three – St. Vincent, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, and Grenada – adopting blue, green and yellow flags. During the period of free association, all of the states participated in the West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers , the East Caribbean Common Market and Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) (now superseded by
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