The Rock of Gibraltar

For at least the last 50 years the subject of the colonial status of countries all around the world has been a clear-cut case of the good guys versus the bad guys. The "goodies" were countries like Sierra Leone, Indonesia, and above all India struggling to escape the yoke of the "baddies" – colonial masters like Britain, France, and Portugal. Ironically, the colonial powers tended, in the main, to be benevolent rulers believing in minimal government and low taxation whilst at home they saddled their citizens with bureaucratic regulation and crippling taxation. The battle between good and evil has long been over; history records that the "goodies" won hands-down. Except in the United States, people could dump (or secede from) a government they did not like, or with whom they could not happily live. Colonialism became a subject for the history books although after independence a few million people were killed or impoverished as the newly empowered politicians squabbled over the spoils of victory.

On November 7^th, over 90% of the electorate of Gibraltar voted in a referendum with a pleasingly Saddamesque result – over 99% of the 18,000 voters wanted to retain existing British Sovereignty over the territory of 2.5 square miles. More precisely, they said NO to the question "Do you approve of the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar?"

The British Government was appalled, and viewed the result as a spanner in the works in its relationship with Spain, a fellow member of the European Union. Spain believes that Gibraltar is part of the Spanish mainland, its existence as a British colony an affront to Spanish dignity, and that the decision of the Treaty of Utrecht 1713 giving Gibraltar to Britain should be reversed. Britain, eager not to offend the Spanish (it needs Spanish help in internal negotiations within Europe), agrees but cannot ignore the decisive vote of the people although it would probably like to. The guts of the problem is these stupid Gibraltarians, who refuse to be liberated and have voted accordingly.

For outsiders, few of whom could place Gibraltar on the map, this is a puzzling outcome. Nobody in their right mind would wish to retain demeaning colonial status. But the people of Gibraltar clearly want nothing to do with the gang that brought us The Spanish Inquisition, the Conquistadors, and General Franco. Tony Blair finds the place an embarrassment and is annoyed that the low-taxed, stupid and wretched people of Gibraltar do not see things his way (he thinks that way about every question).

Spain cannot believe that the people do not want to be free and Spanish – by historical standards almost a contradiction in terms. Both countries (who officially opposed the holding of the referendum) refuse to recognise the results of the referendum, although it is difficult to see how this is possible. The Spanish talk about improved government services such as incinerating the trash that Gibraltar produces although no one in Gibraltar believes Spain could improve anything, least of all government. Britain mutters about continued negotiations as if a 99% electoral victory was dependent on dimpled chads. The United States, and other countries, just ignore the mouse that roared.

Compared to the probability of war in Iraq, the famine in Ethiopia, and the economic crisis in Argentina Gibraltar does not rate as a problem – except for the people of Gibraltar for whom it is the most important thing in the world.

Why are ordinary people so muddle-headed? Can they not see the wickedness of colonialism and irrelevance of an 18^th century treaty? Do they not understand that independent people in countries like famine stricken Zambia are happier than prosperous Gibraltar? Can they not put their trust in the good intentions of the Spanish who have come a long way since the demise of General Franco? Can they not grasp the fact that the world has moved on, and that the destiny of small places like Gibraltar lies in being a part of bigger countries? Can they not comprehend that big government is essential to human happiness?

The trouble is that the voters of Gibraltar are not fools. They simply do not trust big bad government from Spain. For a great many countries political independence has led to increased government power and less freedom for ordinary people. Can we honestly say that the lives of ordinary people in Sierra Leone or Zimbabwe or Burma or Cambodia or Guyana or a host of other countries are better now than when colonialism was the norm? Is not tiny Gibraltar sending a message to bullying politicians everywhere – we do not trust or like you, and we just want to be left alone to live our lives free from oppressive government?

This Gilbert and Sullivan episode raises important issues about the necessity of big government – people do not like it and they want to be left alone to get on with their lives. The current status of Gibraltar may not be perfect but it is a heck of a lot better than the Spanish alternative. Many would say that Gibraltar has got it right, and voters in large and independent countries have been hoodwinked into believing that big government can cure every ill, remedy every inconvenience, and can instruct the electorate on how best to lead their lives.

Shame on Gibraltar for not believing the conventional wisdom about political independence, and failing to appreciate the benefits of Spanish citizenship and omnipotent government.

November 13, 2002

Bob Stewart [send him mail] has lived in Bermuda all of his adult life, and was chief executive of the Royal/Dutch Shell Group of Companies in Bermuda until his retirement in 1998. Subsequently, he was President of Old Mutual Asset Managers, Bermuda, and retired from there at the end of 2002. He is a director of several Bermuda companies and investment funds, and the author of A Guide to the Economy of Bermuda, which will be published within the next few weeks.

Back to LewRockwell.com Home Page