Small island nations and democratic values

When it comes to the practice of democratic politics, do size and insularity matter? A number of studies suggest that small island states are more likely to be democratic than others, regardless of levels of economic development. The Commonwealth islands, especially, have done very well on indices of political and civil rights and have provided the basis for vibrant civil societies. But this research also indicates that in other instances, rigid control exercised by elites may result in nepotism and patronage. As well, "islandness" has proved little protection against severe ethno-cultural cleavages and, in small archipelagos, to secessionist movements.