So what conclusions , if any, can a
historian draw from such a brief visit?
- The islanders
present themselves as confident in their status quo and future.
Many appear to have drawn a line under 1982 and want to get on now with developing the
islands in their own way.
- Fishing licences
have enabled the islands to more easily fund themselves and develop the
island facilities such as new schools and hospital.
- The prosperity is
visible in Stanley: the number of new houses being built (and their high
prices speak volumes for local confidence in their future), the large cars
parked outside most of them.
- To
an outsider there
would appear to be little
animosity towards Argentina. In fact several talked to us about how much
they liked Buenos Aires and visited it. Some recommended places to eat in
the Argentine capital. However it is clear that although many may like to
visit Argentina they do not want to be Argentine.
But
Whilst both the Islands and Argentina allow 19th century nationalism
and imperialist concerns of sovereignty to dominate discussion of a future
there is unlikely to be any change to the status quo. Both, (probably
correctly, given to its confused provenance) believe in the righteousness of
their own claims to sovereignty.
Equally,
the islanders have some claim to self determination. That concept is now
nearly a century old in international diplomacy, regardless of previous
historical precedent. So be it, but there is still an absurdity in a
small community being so dependent on an economy and society 6,000 miles away
when many of its needs might be
better
met by its closest neighbour.
Culturally there is no doubt the islanders are British. There needs to be a
settlement that allows this culture to be maintained and securely protected but
within the context of its geographical reality.
In recent times it has served the needs of Argentina, the UK, and no less
(but often forgotten) Chile, to use the islands as a pawn to serve other agendas
in which the islanders themselves were largely ignored. It may take some brave
and creative diplomacy (perhaps encouraged along by any successful oil finds in
the area….) over the long term such as that being adopted by China to achieve a
better balance of interests, this time between the needs of the islanders and
their neighbours.
As a Scot with fond attachments and memories of both Argentina and the Islands, I hope so.
Click on a thumbnail to see us on the islands!
Click for another Section:
1.
Getting there
2.
Practicalities
3.
Getting around
4. On the islands
5.
The future
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That's all folks! |
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casahistoria is recommended by:
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BBC radio,
UK |
Channel 4 TV, UK |
Birmingham GRID for Learning,
UK |
UK
joint
university database |
Argentina's national paper |
SBC Education
Blue Ribbon HOT site,
USA
|
SovLit, Harvard Univ,
USA |
 
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