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History and Government
History: Until the war of 1982, the rainy, windswept Falkland Islands were a lowly, almost forgotten remnant of the old British Empire. First occupied by the French in 1764, the islands were quickly ceded to Spain, which then ruled the adjacent territory in Latin America. However, the Spanish only established themselves on West Falkland and, in 1765, the British took control of the eastern island. By 1816, due to the islands’ inclement climate and strategic uselessness, both powers had removed their respective garrisons and the Falkland Islands had no permanent inhabitants. A vessel from newly independent Argentina was sent in 1820, to establish a permanent settlement but was driven out by a British expedition in 1832. The British declared full sovereignty over the Falkland Islands the following year. Argentina refused to recognise the British occupation and has maintained a consistent claim to sovereignty ever since. This claim was pursued periodically through diplomatic channels until 1982, when an Argentine force overran the British garrison and established a military base on ‘Islas Malvinas’, a name derived from the original French settlers, who named the islands after their home port of St Malo.
After various attempts at negotiation and mediation had failed, a British task force, which had been despatched at the start of the crisis, was ordered to continue its journey and engage the Argentines. Argentina formally surrendered on 14 June, ten weeks after the invasion. In the subsequent contact between the two governments, it has become apparent that the issue of sovereignty is a stumbling block and that the Falkland Islands issue will remain a key aspect of Argentine foreign policy in the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, discreet negotiations were opened between the two sides under UN auspices, during 1988. The UK adamantly refused to discuss sovereignty and has not moved from this position ever since – the wishes of the islanders, who are determined to stay British, remain paramount. The islanders also have been granted full British citizenship, which is generally not available to the inhabitants of other residual British-controlled territories. But much practical progress has been made on economic issues such as airline landing rights, fisheries control and other trade matters. Despite the political inertia, the Falkland Islands has made substantial economic progress in the two decades since the war (see Economy section).
Government: The Falkland Islands are a British Crown Colony. The British monarch is locally represented by an appointed Governor, who is responsible for administration, aided by an Executive Council of six members. The Legislative Council has two ex-officio members and eight members elected by universal suffrage.
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