C aribbean Integration—Lessons for the P acific?

The members of the P acific I slands F orum have recently considered a quite critical review of the P acific P lan for strengthening regional cooperation and integration. The C aribbean C ommunity ( CARICOM ), another grouping encompassing a number of small island developing states, has also been contemplating highly critical assessments of the nature of its approach to regionalism, and of the institutions that have been put in place to give effect to this approach. Are there lessons for the P acific from the C aribbean experience? This article looks at aspects of the approaches to regionalism and economic integration adopted in the C aribbean, and considers parallels with the situation in the Pacific. It suggests that the CARICOM experience puts into question elements of the logic and overall approach to integration being pursued in both regions (and being urged by external partners).