PROMOTING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES: INSIGHTS FROM VULNERABILITY AND RESILIENCE ANALYSIS

This article suggests a generic method to compute a composite index of vulnerability and resilience from a sustainable development perspective: the Net Vulnerability-Resilience Index. A worldwide application shows that both vulnerability and resilience are policy responsive. From the worst to the ideal, the state of vulnerability-resilience can be an uncontrolled vulnerability, a contained vulnerability, an unstable resilience or a stable resilience. We show that contrary to the well-established conclusion, Small Island Developing States are not specifically more prone to vulnerability than other countries. Small Island Developing States must concentrate their efforts on a better international economic integration that should be compatible with the preservation of their natural resources.