Abstract: For a great majority of former colonies, the outcome of decolonization was independence. Yet scattered across the globe, remnants of former colonial empires are still non-sovereign as part of larger metropolitan states. There is little drive for independence in these territories, virtually all of which are small island nations, also known as sub-national island jurisdictions (SNIJs). Why do so many former colonial territories choose to remain non-sovereign? In this paper we attempt to answer this question by conducting a global comparative study of non-sovereign jurisdictions. We start off by analyzing their present economic, social and political conditions, after which we assess local levels of (dis)content with the contemporary political status, and their articulation in postcolonial politics. We find that levels of discontent and frustration covary with the particular demographic, socio-economic and historical-cultural conditions of individual territories. While significant independence movements can be observed in only two or three jurisdictions, in virtually all cases there is profound dissatisfaction and frustration with the contemporary non-sovereign arrangement and its outcomes. Instead of achieving independence, the territories’ real struggle nowadays is for obtaining ‘true equality’ with the metropolis, as well as recognition of their distinct cultural identities.Keywords: decolonization, equality, independence, islands, non-sovereign, sub-national island jurisdictions

中文翻译：

---

非主权岛屿领土的全球比较：寻求“真正平等”

摘要：对于大多数以前的殖民地来说，非殖民化的结果就是独立。然而，散布在全球各地的前殖民帝国的残余部分仍然是非主权国家，是大都市国家的一部分。在这些领土上几乎没有独立的动力，事实上，这些领土都是小岛国，也称为国家以下岛屿管辖区（SNIJ）。为什么这么多的前殖民地领土选择保持非主权？在本文中，我们试图通过对非主权管辖区进行全球比较研究来回答这个问题。我们首先分析他们目前的经济，社会和政治状况，然后评估他们对当代政治地位的不满（当地）水平，以及他们在后殖民政治中的表述。我们发现，不满和沮丧的程度随各个领土的特定人口，社会经济和历史文化条件而变。虽然仅在两个或三个管辖区中可以观察到重大的独立运动，但实际上在所有情况下，对于当代的非主权安排及其结果都存在极大的不满和挫败感。如今，领土不是在实现独立，而是在与大都市获得``真正的平等''以及承认其独特的文化身份的真正斗争。关键词：非殖民化，平等，独立，岛屿，非主权，次国家岛屿司法管辖区 虽然仅在两个或三个管辖区中可以观察到重大的独立运动，但实际上在所有情况下，对于当代的非主权安排及其结果都存在极大的不满和挫败感。如今，领土不是在实现独立，而是在与大都市获得``真正的平等''以及承认其独特的文化身份的真正斗争。关键词：非殖民化，平等，独立，岛屿，非主权，次国家岛屿司法管辖区 虽然仅在两个或三个管辖区中可以观察到重大的独立运动，但实际上在所有情况下，对于当代的非主权安排及其结果都存在极大的不满和挫败感。如今，领土不是在实现独立，而是在与大都市获得``真正的平等''以及承认其独特的文化身份的真正斗争。关键词：非殖民化，平等，独立，岛屿，非主权，次国家岛屿司法管辖区