Small States in International Relations
Summary
Small states—understood as sovereign entities with limited material, military and institutional capacities relative to major powers—occupy a distinctive role in contemporary international relations. Their influence often derives from niche specialisations, strategic alliance-building and adept use of soft power rather than raw coercive capacity. Theoretical advances have reconceptualised power as multidimensional, showing how diplomatic agility, normative entrepreneurship and targeted coalition-building can offset deficits in economic or military resources. Empirical analyses highlight small states’ capacity to shape decision-making in international organisations, pioneer climate and human-rights diplomacy and adapt security postures through flexible alliances. Recent geopolitical shifts have also driven foreign policy role changes, as once non-aligned states reassess identities under heightened threat perceptions. Through case studies ranging from Nordic security realignments to island states’ climate advocacy, research illuminates how small states navigate dependencies, preserve autonomy and contribute to the evolution of a rules-based international order.
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Small States in International Relations publication trend
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Technical terms
Small state: A sovereign entity with limited material, military and institutional resources relative to major powers.
Soft power: The ability to shape preferences and influence other actors through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion.
Rules-based international order: A system in which international norms, treaties and institutions structure state behaviour.
Role theory: Analytical framework examining how states conceive and enact their identities, functions and expected behaviour in world politics.
Multidimensional power: Concept recognising that state influence derives from multiple sources, including military, economic, diplomatic and normative resources.
References
- The power of the “weak” and international organizations. The Review of International Organizations (2024).
- Small states and the dilemma of geopolitics: role change in Finland and Sweden. International Affairs (2024).
- From variation to convergence in turbulent times – foreign and security policy choices among the Nordics 2014–2023. European Security (2023).
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