Abstract
Contrary to widely held belief, small island countries have many lessons to offer to other countries and the world community in terms of their development strategies. This article provides evidence that small island countries are experts at breaking and distorting global trade rules without being noticed or provoking retaliatory actions. Rather than invest in productive activities to finance imports, small islands prefer to be rent-seekers. The importance of being unimportant has allowed many small economies to pursue distinctively national policies seeking favorable deals which concede special advantages. Seen from the small economies' perspectives, globalization is not homogeneous, uniform or equal, but rather pluralistic, messy and often richly asymmetrical, consisting of derogations, exceptions, and special arrangements.