Negotiating Sovereignty in the Postcolonial Caribbean

Abstract

The Caribbean continues to navigate the legacies of colonialism amid contemporary challenges of governance, development, and sovereignty. Despite formal independence, many states retain centralized, hierarchical structures inherited from colonial rule, constraining participatory mechanisms and complicating relations with civil society. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have emerged as pivotal actors in addressing social, environmental, and developmental needs, yet they operate within fragmented legal frameworks, uncertain funding environments, and politically mediated contexts. This analysis synthesizes historical, theoretical, and empirical scholarship to examine how postcolonial legacies and postinternational dynamics shape NGO–state interactions across the region. Analytical coding of scholarly and policy sources identified themes of negotiated sovereignty, civil society capacity, and collaborative resilience. Findings reveal that NGOs not only fill governance gaps but also redefine sovereignty as a networked and negotiated process, particularly in disaster response, gender justice, and transparency initiatives. These insights accentuate the potential of integrating NGOs into formal governance systems, offering actionable guidance for policymakers, civil society leaders, and development practitioners seeking inclusive, accountable, and adaptive governance in small island states.