1966 - 2016 FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond 1966 - 2016
Khellon Quacy Roach and Raymond Mark Kirton
I
ndigenous banking refers to the idea of a bank originating out of the same territory it is intended to serve. The story of First Citizens and indigenous banking in Trinidad & Tobago is a precise expression of this idea, though it is not unique to Trinidad & Tobago alone. Indigenous banking is now the norm, partly because when a country attains the political status of an independent nation, true economic or social independence can’t be achieved if all its banking and financial institutions are based in, or owned by foreign countries. Up until the 1960s, these foreign-based banks mainly catered to the needs of the business community, and the everyday man had few options for securing and investing money.
These fundamental questions endured.
Will a foreign entity serve a local community as well as the local community can serve itself? Will a foreign institution stick with you through thick and thin? Do we have an alternative? Questions like these gave rise to institutions like First Citizens and other banks across the Caribbean and Latin America. In the Caribbean, First Citizens bravely led the charge, beginning in 1914 with the founding of the Trinidad Cooperative Bank. Some indigenous banks in the region have become so well established that many of them have branched out beyond their home bases in search of new markets and strategic alliances beyond their shores and even beyond the region. In the case of First Citizens - which has been hailed for its contributions to the development of the local economy over the past two decades - indigenous banking has come into its own - locally, and regionally; so much so they that they now compete with - and even rival - the foreign-based banks that dominated the local landscape in the past.
First Citizens first step out of the Red, White and Black was into Barbados, St Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and now into Costa Rica. The challenge for First Citizens and of other indigenous banks in the region is now: how does a bank, indigenous to one territory, reach out to other territories without beginning to resemble the foreign colonial behemoths they replaced? One of the keys to navigating this future may lie in the redefinition of what and where we Caribbean people call “home”. Should our understanding of our identity depend solely on the countries we were born in? Should we begin to see ourselves as one people – citizens of the Caribbean and Latin America - with one broad and diverse identity? What would that mean socially, culturally, politically and economically?
These are our new frontiers and some of the new questions all citizens will grapple with in a new era of Caribbean evolution and integration. Whatever the answers, First Citizens expects to be here with you all the way.
This is only part of the story of indigenous banking. Visit www.firstcitizensstory.com for more.
A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Institute of International Relations 1966 - 2016 Khellon Quacy Roach and Raymond Mark Kirton
First published in Jamaica 2016 by Ian Randle Publishers 16 Herb McKenley Drive Box 686 Kingston 6 www.ianrandlepublishers.com Š 2016 Institute of International Relations ISBN: 978-976-637-944-5 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of Jamaica All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher and author. Book design by Karibgraphics Ltd Printed and Bound in the USA
Contents Foreword W. Andy Knight
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Preface Khellon Quacy Roach & Raymond Mark Kirton
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Acknowledgements
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Congratulatory Messages
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President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Brigadier David Granger
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Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles
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Former Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Professor Clement Sankat
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Honorary Consul General of Switzerland in Trinidad and Tobago, Mrs. Michele Khan
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Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque
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Director General, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dr Didacus Jules
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IIR Board Member and Ambassador of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the United States of America, Dr Riyad Insanally
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United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, Mr. Richard Blewitt
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Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Affairs, The University of the West Indies, Ambassador Dr Richard L. Bernal
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Chapter 1 - In the Beginning - The Academic Precursors to the IIR and the Role of the Swiss Government in the Establishment of IIR (1960 - 1965)
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Chapter 2 - The Early History of IIR (1966 – 1971)
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Chapter 3 - IIR in Transition - The Era of Restructuring & Challenges (1972 – 1980)
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Chapter 4 - IIR in Transition - The Era of Expansion (1981 – 1997)
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Chapter 5 - IIR in Transition – The Era of New Challenges & Opportunities (1998 – 2007)
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Chapter 6 - The Dawn of a New Era (2008 – 2016)
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Chapter 7 - Celebrating 50 Distinguished Alumni for 50 Years of Service
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A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond
Foreword W. Andy Knight The year 2016 marks the golden jubilee of the Institute of International Relations (IIR). Milestones like this one are important because they indicate a level of institutional sustainability and success. But it also reminds us that the IIR has come a long way from its modest beginnings. The fiftieth anniversary of the IIR is an epochal event that allows those of us who have been associated with this wonderful institution to reflect on its evolution, celebrate its achievements, understand its place within Caribbean regionalism, and envision its future trajectory. I consider myself lucky to have served as Director of the Institute from 2013 to 2015. Standing on the shoulders of the Directors who went before me, I was perched in a pivotal position, at the conjuncture of the IIR’s past and future, to be able to take a panoramic view of the historical events that produced and shaped the Institute and to take critical stock, on the eve of the 50th anniversary, of the potential future direction that the IIR is likely to take under the guidance of a new Director, a new Principal of the St. Augustine Campus and a new ViceChancellor of The University of the West Indies. By now, it should be common knowledge that (drawing on the vision of Trinidad and Tobago’s first Prime Minister, Eric Williams) the Swiss government, as part of its development assistance to newly independent countries in the developing world, was responsible for the establishment of the Institute of International Relations in 1966 in the Caribbean region. Located on the St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad, this Institute was envisioned as a facility for the training and development of future leaders and diplomats of the small states in the Caribbean. Eventually, the Institute was brought into the administrative
orbit of The University of the West Indies (UWI), with the financial support of the governments of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and Guyana. On this occasion of the golden jubilee celebration we should therefore not forget the generosity of the Swiss government, which provided not only the seed funding to get this institute up and running but also the administrative and scholarly leadership in the form of Swiss Directors and lecturers, Roy Preiswerk, Yves Collart, and Ulrich Haeflin to ensure that the idea of training future Caribbean leaders and diplomats would become a reality. We should bear in mind that the Swiss’ generosity extended also to the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC), University of Yaounde, Cameroon; the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies (IDIS), University of Nairobi, Kenya; and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (MEDAC), the University of Malta. A special relationship was developed between these institutes in the developing world and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Indeed, one of the beloved lecturers of the IIR, Dr Johann (Hans) Geiser, who passed away in 2015, first came to the IIR via the Graduate Institute in Geneva. The Institute of International Relations has witnessed major geopolitical shifts, from the Cold War to the post-Cold War era, from the break-up of the Soviet Union to the process of integration within the European Union, from bipolarity to unipolarity, from colonization to decolonization, and from regionalization to globalization. Its students have had to grapple over the years with important issues such as the expanding conceptualization of both global and regional security, the many vulnerabilities that face the region, the noticeable impacts iv
of climate change, global economic downturns, the ebb and flow of tourism, the attempts to diversify economies, the negative onslaught of globalization, the failure of regional integration, despite the efforts of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the competition between the US and an emerging China, and between mainland China and Taiwan. Over 50 years, the relevance of the institute cannot be disputed. The biggest challenge for the IIR over the next 50 years will be how best to sustain the new Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean (DAOC) while expanding the range of courses and programmes offered within the Institute in order to address 21st century problems. Governments in this region need well educated, well trained critical minds willing to take on the mantle of leadership and governance and willing to think outside the box. The future of this region is at stake. For the next 50 years the CARICOM region will continue to be one of the most vulnerable regions in the globe. Indeed, as reported in the Small Island Developing States Programme of Action (SIDSPOA), adopted in 1994 by the UN Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (UNGCSIDS), Caribbean states are more vulnerable than many other developing states. Apart from the smallness of size and limited land and resources of most of the states in this sub-region, Caribbean states are exposed to persistent and recurring environmental and ecological vulnerabilities. Because of their geographical position, smack in the midst of the hurricane belt, Caribbean states are subjected almost annually to severe hurricanes that cause tremendous physical and infrastructural damage which severely set back their economies. For instance, hurricane Luis in 1995 caused an estimated EC$810 million worth of damage to Antigua and Barbuda. This resulted in the loss of 71% of the country’s GDP and literally closed down its tourist industry. Global warming is expected to cause significant rises in sea level within the Caribbean Sea over the next 100 years that could lead to significant losses of land, damage to the coral reefs, changes to the eco-systems, loss in fish stocks, etc. The Caribbean
islands are also subjected annually to volcanoes, earthquakes, mudslides, and severe floods. The vulnerability of CARICOM states is made worse by the large number of risk factors with which many of the states in this sub-region are confronted: post-structural adjustment, shifting trade arrangements, excessive dependence on fickle international trade and tourism, rising levels of poverty, youth unemployment, large migration into urban areas that are already overcrowded, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, non-communicable diseases, weak educational and health institutions, ineffective policing, widespread proliferation of guns, drug trafficking, alcohol abuse, the presence of organized criminal gangs, ethnic and racial strife, home-grown terrorism, intergenerational structural inequalities, porous borders, poorly trained custom agents, and a poor security intelligence apparatus. My hope is that the IIR, in combination with the DAOC, will continue over the next 50 years to tackle these pressing issues and offer concrete policy guidance to the leaders of our countries in this region and hemisphere. The original mandate of the Institute of International Relations was to develop leaders and diplomats to serve the countries of this region. As you will see in the following pages of this book, the IIR has so far done a pretty good job in living up to that mandate. Many of our alumni have gone on to play significant roles in government, in foreign ministries, in the private sector, in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and in Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs). Some are working diligently in regional bodies like CARICOM, the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The future of the Caribbean may depend quite heavily on the next generation of leaders and diplomats coming out of the Institute of International Relations. Let us celebrate this important milestone but, at the same time, let us not rest on our laurels. The future beckons with as much alacrity and urgency as when this experiment was first started by the Swiss in 1966.
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A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond
Preface Khellon Quacy Roach & Raymond Mark Kirton Anniversaries are special moments. They not only present the opportunity for reflection, but they also provide the opportunity for forward thinking. Having been established through an international agreement between the Swiss Confederation (the Government of Switzerland) and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in 1966, the Institute of International Relations (IIR) celebrates its golden 50th anniversary in 2016. On this momentous occasion, this book entitled, A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years and Beyond traces the fascinating but complex evolution of the IIR, a remarkable postgraduate institution of the regional University of the West Indies known for producing outstanding Caribbean leaders, housed at The UWI St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad. It tells the remarkable story of how a small training institution with a single classroom and 14 students, became a globally recognized regional centre for the analysis and advancement of international relations and global issues. The lively and engaging
text of the book is complemented throughout by treasurable photographs (both vintage and contemporary), and attractive illustrations. The book is first introduced by several congratulatory messages from high level stakeholders including, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the Secretary-General of CARICOM, the Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Trinidad and Tobago, among many others. Chapter 1 is entitled In the Beginning (1960 – 1965) and it sets the context by outlining the academic precursors to IIR and the role of the Swiss Government in the establishment of the IIR. Chapter 2 The Early History of IIR (1966 – 1971) describes the achievements of the Institute under the leadership of Swiss staff, Professors - Ulrich Haeflin, Roy Preiswerk and Yves Collart, all founding Swiss IIR Directors. Chapter 3 is entitled IIR in Transition – The Era of Restructuring (1972 – 1980). This chapter describes the many changes that took place when the
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Swiss government passed the baton to the Caribbean region to take ownership and responsibility for IIR and consequently the adoption of a new constitution. Chapter 4 IIR in Transition – The Era of Expansion (1981 – 1997) reflects on the growth of the Institute physically in terms of its infrastructure and student numbers, and academically in terms of its programmes and areas covered. Chapter 5 is entitled, IIR in Transition – The Era of New Challenges & Opportunities (1998 – 2007). This chapter identifies some of the main challenges of the Institute, including financing, as a result of the withdrawal of contributing countries, but it also describes the opportunities that emerged through the strengthening of relations with The UWI and its connections with IIR alumni. Chapter 6 is entitled The Dawn of a New Era 2008 – 2016. It presents some of the more recent activities and accomplishments of the Institute such as the strengthening of links with the diplomatic community through the establishment of ‘Diplomatic Dialogues’, and a return to its original mandate of diplomatic training with the
recent establishment of the Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean (DAOC). The final chapter is entitled, Celebrating 50 Distinguished Alumni for 50 Years of Service. It demonstrates the calibre of alumni produced by the Institute and gives the reader an appreciation of the tremendous service provided by the alumni of the Institute of International Relations to the regional and global community over the last five decades. As the Institute of International Relations celebrates its first half-century of service, it is hoped that through this publication, the people of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean region and the world will become even more conscious of its heritage, uniqueness and the enormous contribution that it has made to the development of Caribbean society. For it can be said that this book immortalizes the yeoman service rendered by the entire IIR community, including its students, staff and alumni to the Caribbean community and beyond.
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A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond
Acknowledgements Lynelle Clarke who provided able research assistance. The administrative staff of the Secretariat and the Library of the Institute of International Relations including, Marilyn Ramon-FortunÊ, Ekana Mc Alister, Lucia Williams-Legall, Kemi Burgen, Liu Joseph, Harriett Modeste and Cherill Farrell were all very supportive of the project and gave invaluable administrative assistance and in many instances also provided us with the necessary material – reports, minutes, strategic plans and photographs to facilitate our work. We are grateful for their willing and cheerful assistance. From the wider Campus community, we acknowledge the assistance of Dr Glenroy Taitt of the Alma Jordan Library (the Main Library) and Jo-Ann Georges, Assistant Registrar, Archives and Records Management. We extend heartfelt thanks also to the many staff members, both past and present including former Directors who agreed to share their knowledge and memories of IIR through their incisive comments and interviews.
The completion of this project, a commemorative historical review in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Institute of International Relations (IIR), would not be possible were it not for the steadfast support and commitment of many individuals including the Board, staff, students and alumni of IIR, along with several other members of the wider UWI St. Augustine Campus community. In this context, we first wish to place on record our gratitude to the former Director of IIR, Professor W. Andy Knight, who from the onset when approached, not only supported the idea of producing the first written history of the Institute of International Relations, but also committed the required funding to ensure that it became a reality at this special juncture in the history of the Institute. We also thank the new Director, Professor Jessica Byron-Reid, who upon appointment from 1st August, 2016 continued to support this project until its completion. We would also like to express sincere gratitude to Zara Weekes-Rhyzer and
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Congratulatory Messages
50
A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond
H.E. Brigadier David A. Granger President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana international diplomacy and regional relations at the time when West Indian colonies were becoming Caribbean nations. It can look back with pride and satisfaction at its mission and achievement over the past fifty years. It has unquestionably made an invaluable contribution in educating students, many of whom have gone on to distinguished service both in the Caribbean and further afield. I had the good fortune of being a student of the Institute. I count my days there as amongst the most
I have the honour on behalf of the Government and people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and on my own behalf to extend wholehearted congratulations to the Institute of International Relations, St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee. This is a significant anniversary. I anticipate that it will provide an opportunity for celebration, reflection and forward-planning. The Institute of International Relations transformed the landscape of
memorable and impactful in my life. I was deeply impressed at the quality of the scholarship and the facilities that were afforded students from the very first day of my studies at the Institute. I am proud of the time spent at the Institute and of the many friends that I made there. It is my pleasure to wish the Institute of International Relations every success on this significant milestone and in the years ahead.
Brigadier David Granger President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
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Professor Sir Hilary Beckles Vice-Chancellor, The University of the West Indies
I take great pride in warmly extending my sincerest congratulations to the Institute of International Relations on its golden 50th anniversary, both as Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies and as Chairman of the Board of the Institute of International Relations. Established in 1966, the Institute of International Relations continues
to distinguish itself as a remarkable postgraduate institution of The UWI, and has graduated thousands of alumni, many of whom have excelled at the highest level of leadership in the Caribbean and beyond. When one reflects on the calibre of alumni such as – His Excellency Brigadier David A. Granger, the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, the former Governor-General of Jamaica and Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Mona Campus, the late Ambassador Henry Gill, the former Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, and Mr Desmond Parker, former United Nations Chief of Protocol among many others, one immediately appreciates the magnitude of service provided by the Institute to our regional and global community over the last five decades. Indeed, our university and region owe a great deal of gratitude to the
founding architects of the Institute of International Relations including - Dr Eric Williams (first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and then UWI Pro-Chancellor), Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice (then UWI Chancellor), Sir Philip Sherlock (then UWI ViceChancellor), and Dr Dudley Huggins (then UWI St. Augustine Campus Principal). In addition, I cannot forget the significant assistance granted to the IIR in the founding years, by the Government of Switzerland, both in terms of financial resources through SWISSAID, and technical expertise from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies Geneva, and Swiss staff such as Professors - Ulrich Haeflin, Roy Preiswerk and Yves Collart (all founding Swiss IIR Directors). The team at IIR that conceptualized this publication, and those whom have made every effort to ensure that it becomes a reality must also be
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commended. As a historian myself, I can think of no better way to preserve the institutional memory of the Institute of International Relations at this special juncture than the publishing of this commemorative book. In the midst of the celebration, I ask the entire IIR community (inclusive of students, staff and alumni) to appreciate the responsibility you have, as part of the wider regional University of the West Indies to enlighten and direct our Caribbean community on the pathway to sustainable development, prosperity and progress. Congratulations!
Professor Sir Hilary Beckles Vice-Chancellor - The University of the West Indies
A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond
Professor Clement K. Sankat Former Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus
It is with great pleasure that I extend profound congratulations to the staff, students and alumni of the Institute of International Relations (IIR) on its golden 50th anniversary! The UWI St. Augustine Campus continues to be very proud to house such a distinguished institution. A vision of the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and
Tobago and I should add, a founding father of our University, Dr Eric Williams, the Institute of International Relations has produced a cadre of professionals for both the private and public sectors including diplomats, permanent secretaries, academics, researchers, CEOs, practitioners, senior government officials and most recently a Caribbean head of state in the 8th President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency, Brigadier David Granger. Over the last five decades, the Institute has indeed grown both physically and academically. What began in 1966 as a single classroom with just 14 students, has blossomed into what we have today - a globally recognized institution with an annual average student population of 100 enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma, MSc, MPhil and PhD degrees. Fifty years from the perspective of
International Relations is a long time, and the world has changed significantly. It has become much more connected, new global leaders have emerged and the complexity of the world we live in has increased considerably. While there has been human progress, several threats have also emerged including, but not limited to financial calamities, climate change and the environment, health, nutrition and diseases, and most frightening, the proliferation of terrorism. The work of our staff and students of the Institute of International Relations therefore becomes even more important today than when it was founded in 1966. The Institute must also be proud of its new building which has been constructed to house the recently established Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean, which in itself, in years to come will be an iconic legacy of the Institute of International Relations.
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Once again, on behalf of The UWI St. Augustine Campus, I extend heartiest congratulations to the Director, staff, students and alumni of the Institute of International Relations on this momentous occasion – your 50th anniversary. I wish the Institute continued strength of purpose, increased capacity and resilience as you grow and continue to support our region, the Americas, the world over. Continue to serve well! Best wishes and may success come to all that you do in the future!
Professor Clement K. Sankat Former Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus
Mrs. Michèle Khan Consul General of Switzerland in Trinidad and Tobago It gives me great pleasure to extend, on my own behalf and that of the Consulate General of Switzerland, warmest congratulations to the Institute of International Relations on achieving its 50th anniversary, recognizing that Switzerland played an important role in its embryonic development. I am confident that through visionary leadership the Institute will continue to grow in stature and its various achievements will redound to the benefit of the Caribbean community. Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Michèle Khan Consul General of Switzerland in Trinidad & Tobago
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A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond
Ambassador Irwin LaRocque Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
It is no small feat to celebrate fifty years of institutional existence. For longevity in and of itself is an achievement, an affirmation of continued relevance. That the Institute of International Relations (IIR) can, in addition, assert without fear of contradiction, that for fifty years it has been the premier diplomatic training institution in our CARICOM Region makes this anniversary all the more worthy of celebration.
In this complex global environment, perspective and informed diplomacy and an in-depth and critical understanding of international relations are imperatives for survival and prosperity. This is all the more so when one is, in relative terms, a ‘small’ player in the international arena. Fortunately, astute and well trained personnel with ideas and ideals can make the world stage their stage. This has certainly been the Caribbean
experience, and the IIR has played a laudable role in providing the required training and in lending scholarship to our countries’ and Regions’ policies. It is therefore with great pride and pleasure that I extend congratulations to the Institute of International Relations on its golden jubilee! May you live to see many more!
Ambassador Irwin LaRocque Secretary-General Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
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Dr Didacus Jules Director General, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
A fiftieth anniversary provides very good reason for congratulations and effusive celebrations. For the past fifty years, you have been in the vanguard of diplomacy in the English speaking Caribbean by virtue of your role as the premier training and research institution on the subject. Your establishment in 1966 was most opportune, coinciding with the first wave of political independence in the region following the demise of the West Indies Federation. You have
contributed greatly to the shaping of West Indian identity, culture, intellect and sovereignty through the provision of institutional support to newly independent states seeking to find and to assert themselves in the world, and through the provision of training in the field of International Relations. Today, your graduates can be found at the highest levels of the public and private sectors, providing direction to the region’s development. In celebrating your fiftieth
anniversary, let us consider not only the passage of fifty years of successful operation, but most importantly, the profound contribution which you have made to our region’s development. On behalf of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, I convey heartiest congratulations and best wishes for continued success.
Dr Didacus Jules Director-General Organization of Eastern Caribbean Sates (OECS)
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A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond
Dr Riyad Insanally IIR Board Member and Ambassador of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the United States of America
The theme, ‘Celebrating the Past; Looking to the Future’, very neatly encapsulates the fact that a golden jubilee is as much a time for rejoicing as it is for reflection and forwardthinking. The Institute of International Relations (IIR) and its stakeholders undoubtedly have much of which to be proud. With relatively modest financial resources but with an abundance of intellectual acumen and effort, the IIR has succeeded in positioning itself as the principal centre for the study of international relations in the Caribbean Community. Within the framework of The University of the West Indies, with the support of its contributing governments – not least the Government of Trinidad and Tobago whose first Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams, had the vision to champion its creation – and through
the dedication of its staff members and the achievements of its alumni over the decades, the IIR has established itself as a significant Caribbean resource, for academics and practitioners alike, for research, analysis, professional development, diplomacy and public policy. Now, as the Institute looks ahead to the next 50 years, our region is faced with existential challenges. The Institute, therefore, in casting a critical eye over its mission, structure and capacity, and in continuing to pursue the path of constant consolidation and renewal, must fortify itself to respond rapidly and nimbly to changing circumstances; for it must be ever able to innovate and improve in order to be always relevant. I have had the honour to serve two stints on the Institute’s Board of Directors – from 1995 to 1999
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and from 2009 to the present – and I am delighted to extend warmest congratulations to all associated with the IIR, past and present, on this historic 50th anniversary and to wish the Institute continued and, indeed, greater success in the years to come.
Dr Riyad Insanally IIR Board Member and Ambassador of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the United States of America
Mr. Richard Blewitt United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator & United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten The Institute of International Relations is a very strong Caribbean institution. Throughout its 50 years it has delivered very well trained Caribbean specialists and powerful Thinkers who have played a vital role in strengthening international relations in the region and in strengthening the voice and influence of the Caribbean region in the world such as the Caribbean’s leadership in securing the United Nations General Assembly Summit on Non Communicable Diseases which has had a powerful global impact. The Institute of International Relations has in recent times taken on a range of great leadership initiatives. Recently an innovative Caribbean Children’s Observatory has been established, that supports learning and best practices around addressing children’s human rights in the region. The Institute of International Relations
has also brought into life a highly effective Diplomatic Academy for the Caribbean. These two initiatives highlight the relevance and creativity of the Institute for the benefit of Caribbean Sustainable Development. In 2015 the Institute of International Relations partnered with the United Nations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and a range of international development actors to drive forward an innovative and disruptive thinking Forum on the Future of the Caribbean, pushing new thinking for better long term policy making in the interest of sustainable development in the Caribbean. The Institute of International Relations has always been a strong partner with the United Nations offices in Trinidad and Tobago and across the Caribbean, working on a range of vital
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issues including human rights, decent work, food security, environment and climate change issues. The United Nations looks forward to working with the Institute of International Relations in the coming fifty years, during which time the Caribbean will face many challenges, but with its leadership and tenacity it will find durable solutions in the interest of the Caribbean and the world.
Mr Richard Blewitt United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator & United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten
A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond
Ambassador Dr Richard L. Bernal Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Affairs, The University of the West Indies I salute and congratulate the Institute of International Relations at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago on its 50th Anniversary. The Institute has served the Caribbean region with distinction in training persons with post-graduate degrees for tenure in the diplomatic service. This function has reached new heights with the recent establishment of the Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean. The IIR has consistently contributed to the conduct of the international relations of the region by the provision of timely and relevant policy papers on vital issues which the small states of the region have had to grapple with in a rapidly and profoundly changing world. In its operations it has subscribed to the highest standards in teaching and research from a staff of
experienced practitioners and a blend of Caribbean and foreign scholars. The IIR has adapted to the evolving and constantly challenging international scene in ways which has allowed it to inform the foreign policies of the Caribbean countries both in their national and regional execution. In addition, it has made its expertise available beyond governmental circles to civil society and the public through a variety of formats of written and inperson engagements. Throughout its history the Institute has periodically refreshed its leadership while maintaining its traditions enabling it to attain and retain an enviable international reputation over the last 50 years. The fact that its students and faculty alumni have held posts of greatest responsibility including that of Head of State and Prime Minister
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is ultimate testament to the important contribution which the Institute of International Relations has made. It is reassuring that as the Caribbean faces existing and new challenges it has at its disposal an institution of such calibre as it mediates the encounter with globalization and navigates the tectonic shifts in the configuration and dispersal of global power.
Ambassador Dr Richard L. Bernal Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Affairs, The University of the West Indies
Milestones
IIR’s 50th Anniversary Timeline
29th June, Dr Eric Williams makes first official visit to Switzerland to consult Swiss authorities on several technical assistance programmes
1965
1966
17th July Dr Eric Williams makes second trip to Switzerland and conveys his desire for the Government of Switzerland to play an advisory role in assisting the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to set up a local training programme for Foreign Service personnel
7th January IIR founded by an international agreement between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Switzerland
Preiswerk Report on the feasibility of the establishment of the Institute of International Relations, Trinidad and Tobago completed
Agreement between IIR & UWI establishing IIR as an affiliate of The UWI is completed
Heads of Mission Conference in Tobago takes place at which Preiswerk presents conclusions of his report 6th February T&T officially announces its agreement to engage in a technical cooperation project
1967
1st February Official Opening of the IIR by Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice, Chancellor of The UWI
1972
1973
IIR given Independent Status and adopts a new Constitution
Guyanese born, Dr Neville Linton appointed acting IIR Director to oversee transition period of moving IIR from Swiss leadership to Caribbean ownership
Summer 1966 Construction of IIR Building completed
September Teaching begins at IIR
IIR celebrates its 40th anniversary
IIR celebrates its first graduating class of the MSc programme in IR delivered by IIR in collaboration with the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR) of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname
2006
2008/09
Historic student overseas visit to Cuba on the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution IIR hosts important pre and post forums for the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government both hosted in Trinidad and Tobago
2009
IIR celebrates its first Guyana cohort of the MSc in Global Studies
IIR launches its Student Mentorship Programme
2010/11
2010
,
1962
,
1974
1980s
1992
1996
2003
2004
IIR appoints its first Caribbean Director in Haitian-born Professor Leslie Manigat
IIR building is expanded with a new North-South wing constructed under the leadership of Professor Anthony Bryan
IIR celebrates its first PhD Graduate in International Relations in Dr Keith Nurse
Electronic Embassy established at IIR with support from the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva
IIR establishes the Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean (CENLAC)
IIR introduces an evening MSc programme in International Relations
IIR launches 50th anniversary celebrations with IIR’s 50th anniversary black-tie dinner
IIR appoints its first female Director in Professor Jessica Byron-Reid
2016
,
,
Opening of the DAOC’s new building
Caribbean Journal of International Relations and Diplomacy launched
Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean launched
2011
2013
2014
2015
,
Diplomatic Dialogue Series inaugurated
IIR celebrates its 1st alumni becoming Head of State in His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
2016
,
A History of the Institute of International Relations: 50 Years & Beyond
Published Material
Sources
Girvan, Norman. “Caribbean Dependency Thought Revisited.” CJDS / RCED, VOLUME XXVII, 3, 2006. Girvan, Norman. “W.A. Lewis, the Plantation School and Dependency: An Interpretation,” Social and Economic Studies, 54:3, (September 2005): 198-221.
Austin, Reginald. Racism and Apartheid in southern Africa: Rhodesia. Paris: The UNESCO Press, 1975. Bernal, Richard L. “Influencing US policy toward the Caribbean: A Post-cold war strategy.” In The Caribbean: New Dynamics in Trade and Political Economy, edited by Anthony T. Bryan, New Brunswick U.S.A London U.K.: Transaction Publishers, 1995.
Girvan, Norman. “Reinterpreting the Caribbean.” In New Caribbean Thought. A Reader ed. B Meeks and L. Lindahl. Kingston: University Indies Press, 2001: 3-23.
Best, Lloyd. “Outline of a Model of Pure Plantation Economy.” In Social and Economic Studies, September, 1968.
Halliday, Fred. “Cold War in the Caribbean.” New Left Review I/141. (September-October 1983).
Best, Lloyd and Kari Polanyi Levitt. “Externally Propelled Industrialisation and Growth in the Caribbean.” In Selected Essays Vol I, II, III, IV Unpub., Montreal; Mc Gill Centre for Developing Area Studies, 1969.
Hintjens, Helen M. ‘Explaining the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda.” The Journal of Modern African Studies, 37: 2, (1999): 241-286. Hunte, Keith. “The Caribbean in Transition” Africana Age. African and African Diasporan Transformations in the 20th Century. The New York Public Library. http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-caribbean-60-80.html
Bishop, Matthew. “The Political Economy of Small States: Enduring Vulnerability.” Review of International Political Economy. Routledge. (2012). Chailloux-Laffita, Graciela. “An Orthodox Economics Criticism from the Caribbean. The Foundations of a Political Economy for Socioeconomic Caribbean Development, 1945‐1970. An Outline.” Faculty of Philosophy and History, Havana University.
Joseph, Tennyson S. D. “Decolonisation, Democracy and Development The Political Ideas of W. Arthur Lewis (Reclaiming Lewis Within the Caribbean Political Thought Tradition)” (paper delivered to the Sir Arthur Lewis Memorial Conference: Development Challenges in the 21st Century. Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES). St. Augustine Campus, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago). September 25-28, 2009.
Clark, Frank. “38 Years Ago: Words to Ponder Visions to Cherish, The Genesis of the Institute of International Relations.” IIR Today: Quarterly Newsletter of the Institute of International Relations. 2 , October-December, 2004.
Lewis, Arthur W. Industrial Development in the Caribbean. Port of Spain: Caribbean Commission. (A reprint of “Industrial Development in Puerto Rico” Caribbean Economic Review, Vol. I., Nos. 1 and 2; 1949; and “The Industrialisation of the British West Indies”, Caribbean Economic Review, II, 1, (May 1950).
Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l’Europe (CVCE). “The Cold War (1945–1989).” http://www.cvce.eu/obj/the_cold_war_1945_1989_full_text-en-6dfe06ed-4790-48a4-8968855e90593185.html
Meyer, Peter J. and Mark P. Sullivan, “U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: Recent Trends and FY2013 Appropriations.” In CRS Report for Congress, Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress, Congressional Research Service, June 26, 2012.
ECLAC. Development Paths in the Caribbean. United Nations, 2012. Farrell, Trevor M. A. “Myth or Reality?” In The Newer Caribbean edited by Paget Henry, Carl Stone, Institute for the Study of Human Issues, (1983): 3-12.
Mohammed, Debbie. “Size and Competitiveness: An Examination of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)” in The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs. 97: 395, London: Routledge. (2008): 287-303.
Ferraro, Vincent. “Dependency Theory: An Introduction.” The Development Economics Reader. Edited by Giorgio Secondi. London: Routledge (2008): 58-64.
Palmer, Bruce. Intervention in the Caribbean: The Dominican Crisis of 1965.Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky, 1989.
Gill, Henry and Raymond Thomas. “The Institute of International Relations, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad: Background Paper on Its Origin, Its Development and Its Future.” 1971.
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Pantin, Dennis. The Caribbean Economy. Jamaica: Ian Randle, 2005. Pastor, Robert A. ‘Chapter 8: The Caribbean Basin.” in U.S. and Russian Policymaking With Respect to the Use of Force, ed. Jeremy R. Azrael and Emil A. Payin. Arlington VA: Rand Corporation: 1996.
Clarke, Frank. “Patrick Manning: His Early Political Education - A Biographical Note” 2016 “Constitution of the Institute of International Relations.” in The Institute of International Relations, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad: Background Paper on Its Origin, Its Development and Its Future. Henry Gill and Raymond Thomas. 1971.
Payne, Anthony and Paul K. Sutton. Modern Caribbean Politics. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993.
“Exchange Agreement between Wuhan University and The University of the West Indies”
Preiswerk, Roy. “Report on the Proposed Institute of International Relation to be established at Port of Spain, Trinidad.” 1964.
Institute of International Relations, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Annual Reports, 1992/993-2015/2016
Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano and José Briceño-Ruiz. Resilience of Regionalism in Latin America and the Caribbean: Development. United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
“Ordinance 19: Institute of International Relations.” In The Institute of International Relations, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad: Background Paper on Its Origin, Its Development and Its Future. Henry Gill and Raymond Thomas. 1971.
Wallerstein, Emmanuel. World-systems Analysis: An Introduction. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2004.
Swiss Federal Scholarships to the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva. Appendix VI. In The Institute of International Relations, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad: Background Paper on Its Origin, Its Development and Its Future. Henry Gill and Raymond Thomas. 1971.
Warenycia, Michael. “Interpreting the Plantation: An Analysis of Three Historiographies of the Post-Colonial Caribbean,” 2004. Weedmark, Vennesa. “Caribbean Dependency Theory and the Case of Jamaican Development,” Glendon Journal of International Studies. 6, (2013).
Williams, Eric. “Prime Minister’s Speech at the Opening of the Institute of International Relations,” Issued by the Public relations Division, Office of the Prime Minister. Press Release February 1st, 1967.
Welsh, David. The Rise and Fall of Apartheid. Johannesburg and Cape Town: Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2009.
Various Oral History Interviews conducted by Khellon Q. Roach with:
Unpublished Material
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“Agreement between the University of the West Indies and the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva on the Establishment of an Institute for Diplomatic Training.” Appendix II. In The Institute of International Relations, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad: Background Paper on Its Origin, Its Development and Its Future. Henry Gill and Raymond Thomas. 1971.
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Bryan, Anthony Francis, Anselm and Cherill Farrell Gonzales, Anthony Ince, Basil Knight, Andy Linton, Neville Shaw, Timothy
ISBN: 978-976-637-944-5
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789766 379445 >