The difference that sovereignty makes: COVID policies, connectivity, and self-determination in six U.S.-affiliated jurisdictions

Keywords: COVID-19, Sovereignty, Colonialism, Pacific, Micronesia, Pandemic
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 41

Abstract

In this presentation we examine how different arrangements of formal political sovereignty affect local governments' ability to control public policies, human mobilities, and health outcomes. Specifically, our study examines government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic across six U.S. jurisdictions in the Pacific that have different degrees of formal sovereignty: the state of Hawai‘i, the non-sovereign 'unincorporated territory' of Guåhan (Guam), the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and three jurisdictions with formal political sovereignty in 'free association' with the U.S. – the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). By comparing how COVID policies and outcomes differ among jurisdictions which have similar historical experiences of being denied sovereignty based on racist logics – but which today have different levels of contemporary self-determination – we aim to analyze just how formal political enfranchisement alters the capacity of local governments to protect community health. These jurisdictions have all had very different experiences of the pandemic – both in terms of disease incidence rates and the ability of government agencies to set policies and govern mobilities. While all these island groups had different levels of international connectivity prior to the pandemic, some jurisdictions also had greater ability than others during the crisis to set testing and vaccination policies as well as control the movement of tourists, residents, and U.S. military personnel. Our study highlights the ways in which political self-determination can allow local governments to enhance human security - even where state capacity and levels of economic development are low.