Introduction to Small States

1. History of Small State Study

Scholars ignored small states earlier by
- Assuming small states are not fully independent, are controlled by powerful states
- Assuming small states can’t affect international politics
- The use of traditional theories like Realism to explain world politics
- Small states represent small proportion of world population → not important to study
- Researching small states is time consuming
  - Many different cultures and perspectives, risky field work, western researchers
  - Lack of existing studies on small states
  - Not enough funding or is conditional (for studying funder’s country)
  - Most Similar Comparison: Inability to generalize from small sample
Why small states became more important in the 1970s
- Cold War used proxy wars through small states: making them more influential in world politics
- Creation of Newly International Economic Order (NIEO): proliferation of new small states?
- Changed conventional wisdom: Realism focused more on Bandwagoning strategy, alliance building: small powers aligning with powerful states
Why small states are important to IR now
- There are many existing studies on small states now
Euro-centrism: belief that non-western/European states are less civilized, and western culture is the only way to develop (Liberal economy, democratic political system)
- Due to most researchers originate from developed states who gets funds to research developing countries

The definition of small states is still not agreed upon one.
- Theorists doesn’t believe a single definition of small states is possible
- Empiricists believes a specific measurement of small state standard is possible
Since 1950s definitions were based on
- Population size (varies from 1 to 10 Million)
- Economic Indicators (GDP/GNP, GDP per Capita)
- Land Size: island/mainland
Decolonization → more small states → new study redefine as “micro state’’ → merged definition with small state
- Micro state: <1.5M population

Commonwealth Secretariat’s definition: focused on economic indicators
Economic characteristics: of limited domestic opportunities, leading to
- Sensitive & Vulnerable: Openness and susceptibility to adverse development elsewhere
  - Vulnerable to economic crisis
- Narrow resources cause specialization in a few export products
- Dependency on few markets
  - Reliance on overseas aid
  - Reliance on preferential agreements (Cambodia with EBA)
- Human & Financial Capital
  - Shortage in certain skills
  - High per Capita cost in providing government services
Environment: Greater vulnerability to natural disasters
Still lacking in population count, land size,
Reactive foreign policy: adopting certain policies in response to external factors
- Shape foreign policy to take advantage of certain situations
Lack military capability
Small Population: Ken Ross
- Small states population: 1M-5M
- Mini states population: 100k-1M
- Micro states population: <100k
Soft power?

Weak states ≠ Small states
- Usually confused in Realism
(Barry Buzan, 1983, p65-69)
- Strong states: high legitimacy
- Weak states: low legitimacy
- Strong powers: high capabilities
- Weak powers: low capabilities

Small states can be strong powers that can challenge large states (Iceland, Malta, Antigua)

Bandwagoning: aligning with powerful states or IOs for security protection (Cold War Bipolar World)
Alliance Building: aligning with smaller powers (G77)
- Collective security
- Resource sharing: human capital
- Punctual Military Test?
Support Regionalism & Institutionalism have influence in competition with medium and big powers

Ex: Cambodia in ASEAN to have bigger voice to talk with US, Europe, and powerful states.
Lobbying: people who try to convince policy makers or leaders of another country to make decisions that benefits lobbyist’s own country
Neutrality: not aligning with any sides
- A state’s ability to be neutral depends on its geography and its importance for world politics.
- Non-Alignment Movement
- Problem: hard or impossible to measure or bind the level of biasness