The Small State in International Relations: An Empirical Assessment of a Concept

• In Event: Foreign Policy of Small States

Abstract

The role of small states in global affairs is often presumed to be limited, due to their relative lack conventional power resources. However, there is evidence that small states wield more influence than might be expected (Guimaraes 2021; Thorhallsson and Steinsson 2017; Chong and Maass 2010).
Small states’ demonstrated ability to play a larger-than-expected role in international affairs makes them an important subject of inquiry. However, the numerous studies in international relations and foreign policy analysis that focus on small states tend to assume agreement on what defines a small state to shift the focus to explaining the foreign policy behavior of such states.
This study surveys the literature on small states to determine how the concept has been defined in the literature. The study aims to assess the state of conceptual development of the small state concept and to propose directions for future study.

Author

• Marijke Breuning, University of North Texas