Developmental challenges, maritime security, and geopolitics: issues for small island developing states in the Indian Ocean

The developmental challenges for small island developing states (SIDS) globally are also relevant to the Indian Ocean SIDS: Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles. Here we review the issues of economic vulnerability, state functioning, and climate change. There is also a more detailed assessment of maritime security as an issue that impinges on the ability of the Indian Ocean SIDS to meet their developmental challenges, giving attention to illegal fishing, piracy, and drug trafficking, including the way the SIDS have responded. Having assessed the developmental position of the Indian Ocean SIDS, including the issue of maritime security, the argument turns to how this situation is relevant to geopolitics in the region. The major powers can assist the SIDS to meet their developmental challenges, thus enhancing their own position in the region. However the SIDS also have agency by being proactive in responding to their developmental challenges, including maritime security.