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Abstract Debates on island tourism have challenged the inevitability of underdevelopment in peripheral islands. A paradox of geopolitical dependency but optimal autonomy has been proposed where tourism can create a ‘virtuous periphery syndrome’. This study used a dependency theory lens and a core‐periphery framework to analyse stakeholders' perspectives on this, in two Mediterranean archipelagos. The most peripheral islands experienced the highest levels of environmental protection and lowest levels of development, which can be favourable for the development of tourism, but this was perceived as being constrained by dependent relationships. Problematic core‐periphery relations dominated tourism development in both archipelagos. Tourism can provide opportunities for island empowerment but local understanding of this must be developed for optimal autonomy through tourism to be achieved.
Agius et al. (Mon,) studied this question.