Isabella Carter
Small state diplomacy is a subset of diplomacy that focuses on how small states interact with other countries and advance their interests within a framework established by larger powers. Small states are defined by their geographical, economic, or demographic conditions, which contribute to a perceived weakness and vulnerability in the international setting. Despite their limitations, small states can exert influence on the world stage through multilateral diplomacy, amplifying their voices and levelling the playing field. They can also leverage their focused and well-informed diplomacy to produce remarkable results, as demonstrated by countries like Switzerland and the Nordic nations. Small states, such as New Zealand, have successfully projected their influence by amplifying it through constituencies and shared rules and norms, reflecting their values and interests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Limited human and material resources | Cohesion |
| Limited range of issues to address | Common purpose and consistency in foreign policy |
| Valuable role of multilateral diplomacy | Amplifying voices |
| Circumvent initial disadvantage | Leverage, protect and advance national interests |
| Judicious exercise of diplomacy | Self-promotion |
| Influence determined by relevance | Sell values and ideas |
| Embed in emerging architecture | Buttress existing frameworks |
| Open to new arrangements | Transparency |
| Stock of bilateral relationships | Shared values or long-term interests |
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What You'll Learn
Small states can exert influence on the world stage
Small states have a limited set of human and material resources to devote to diplomacy. They also face a more limited range of issues, yet these issues are no less urgent or intense than those faced by larger states. Small states recognize the importance of multilateral diplomacy in enhancing their engagement and amplifying their voices. By joining regional or global bodies, small states can maneuver to promote their interests within frameworks established by larger powers. For instance, small states such as Switzerland and the Nordic countries have demonstrated how focused and well-informed diplomacy can produce remarkable results.
The diplomacy of small states is a subset of diplomacy that is identifiable on its own but also provides insight into broader themes, objectives, and methods of diplomacy. A small state is characterized by its geographical, economic, or demographic conditions that contribute to a perceived weakness and vulnerability in the international setting. Small states may be robust internally but are vulnerable externally, and this is reflected in how they conduct their diplomacy.
Small state diplomacy can be understood through three broad principles: narrative, architecture, and connections. A small state's influence is determined by its relevance, which depends on its ability to tell its story and sell its values and ideas. Small states need to become more self-consciously self-promoting and embed themselves into emerging architecture that reflects their values. Finally, small states must continually build and reinvest in their portfolio of bilateral relationships, prioritizing partners who share their values, have long-term interests, and are accessible and influential.
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Multilateral diplomacy levels the playing field
Small state diplomacy is a subset of diplomacy that is sufficiently distinct to warrant an examination of its own. It involves the study of a wide range of foreign policy options and diplomatic methods, such as how small states deal with development and security. Small states are defined by their geographical, economic, or demographic conditions that contribute to a perceived weakness and vulnerability in the international setting. They have limited human and material resources to devote to diplomacy and face a more limited range of issues, albeit no less urgent or intense than those faced by larger states.
Despite their apparent weakness, small states can exert influence on the world stage and prevail against larger powers. For instance, New Zealand has been able to exert a significant influence on international politics despite its limited hard power. This is achieved through a clear-eyed understanding that acting in accordance with its values and interests is key to advancing its interests.
Small states recognize the importance of multilateral diplomacy in enhancing their engagement and amplifying their voices, thus leveling the playing field. Multilateral diplomacy allows small states to embed themselves into emerging architecture and buttress existing frameworks that reflect their values and interests. They can also drive new arrangements that are open, transparent, and consonant with their values and interests.
Small states can also join regional or global bodies and maneuver within frameworks established by larger powers to promote their interests. For example, the Venetian Republic and the Vatican in the 17th century, and more recently, Switzerland and the Nordic countries, have demonstrated how focused and well-informed diplomacy can produce remarkable results.
In conclusion, multilateral diplomacy levels the playing field for small states by providing them with a platform to amplify their voices and engage with the international community. Through multilateral forums and strategic partnerships, small states can project their influence, advance their interests, and exert a significant impact on the world stage.
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Small states have fewer resources for diplomacy
Small states have a limited set of human and material resources to devote to the tasks of diplomacy. They have fewer people to fill the required positions in global politics. For instance, when Malta assumed the Presidency of the Council of Europe, its diplomats worried that even if the small state devoted its entire diplomatic service to the project, only half the required positions could be filled.
Small states have fewer resources necessary for effective interaction with other states. They face a range of issues that are more limited in number but no less urgent or intense than those of larger states. The effects of their actions on the international order are more focused. Small states recognize the role that multilateral diplomacy plays in enhancing their engagement and amplifying their voices, thus leveling the playing field. However, the complex structures and processes of multilateral diplomacy strain their resources. For example, they may have limited resources for gathering support for their positions.
Despite their limited resources, small states can turn this initial disadvantage into a strategic advantage. Small states can prevail against larger powers and have palpable influence on the world stage under the right circumstances. For instance, New Zealand has exerted a significant influence on international politics despite its limited hard power. Small states can amplify their influence through constituencies, force multiplication frameworks, and shared rules and norms. They can also embed themselves into emerging architecture and buttress the existing frameworks that reflect their values and level the playing field in their favor.
Small states can also drive new arrangements that are open, transparent, and consonant with their values and interests. They must continually build and reinvest in their portfolio of bilateral relationships, placing particular weight on partners who share their values or long-term interests, are accessible and influential, or could play a spoiling role. Small states can also join regional or global bodies and maneuver to promote their interests within frameworks established by larger powers. For example, the Venetian Republic and the Vatican in the 17th century, and more recently, Switzerland and the Nordic countries, have shown how focused and well-informed diplomacy can produce remarkable results.
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Small states need to promote themselves
Small states need to become more self-consciously self-promoting. They must get out and sell their story, values, and ideas to make themselves relevant and protect and advance their national interests. This involves joining bodies, regional or global, and manoeuvring to promote their interests within frameworks established by larger powers. For example, small states can project their influence by amplifying it through constituencies, force multiplication frameworks, and shared rules and norms. They can also embed themselves in emerging architecture and buttress existing frameworks that reflect their values.
Small states should focus on building and reinvesting in their portfolio of bilateral relationships, especially with partners who share their values, have long-term interests, are accessible and influential, or could play a spoiling role. For instance, New Zealand has exerted significant influence on international politics by understanding that its foreign policy must reflect its values and reinforce its interests. New Zealand's participation in groupings such as CANZ (Canada Australia New Zealand) and the Small Advanced Economies Initiative with like-minded partners has contributed to its success in small state diplomacy.
Additionally, small states can prevail against larger powers by adopting specific strategies. For example, Nepal, situated between two major powers, China and India, has pursued a grand strategy of sub-regional hegemony while being mindful of the sensibilities of the big powers. Small states can also leverage their cohesion to create common purpose and consistency in their foreign policy and diplomacy, reducing complications in governance arising from diverse interests and perspectives.
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Small states can use science diplomacy
Small states have limited human and material resources to devote to diplomacy. They face a range of issues that are more limited in scope but no less urgent or intense than those of larger states. Small states can use science diplomacy to enhance their engagement and amplify their voices on the global stage.
Science diplomacy involves scientific exchanges and cross-border collaborations between scientists, scientific organisations, states, and international organisations. It can include formal and informal research-based, academic, or engineering exchanges. Science diplomacy aims to address common problems and build relationships between states.
Small states with advanced science and technology (S&T) capacity can use science diplomacy to project their profile and leverage their limited resources. For example, New Zealand appointed a science envoy in 2009 to assist in developing relationships with other small, advanced economies. As a gateway to the Antarctic, New Zealand was able to provide logistics support for joint scientific expeditions, smoothing over tensions with the United States around nuclear policies.
Small states can also use science diplomacy to attract investment and expert assistance, as Rwanda has done to become a continental leader in new technologies. Israel and Singapore have leveraged their investment in science to attract multinational companies for economic advancement. Additionally, small states can explore opportunities to work jointly with other nations to build capabilities and relationships. For example, more than fifty less developed countries have active research interactions involving New Zealand scientists, even though New Zealand does not have significant trade exchange or resident diplomatic staff in these countries. This makes science perhaps the most visible part of New Zealand's profile, demonstrating its importance in maintaining a global profile for small countries.
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Frequently asked questions
Small-state diplomacy is a subset of diplomacy that focuses on small states, which are often defined by their limited human and material resources, and geographical, economic, or demographic conditions that contribute to a perceived weakness and vulnerability in the international setting. Over half the member states of the United Nations are considered 'small' according to the simplest numerical yardstick (fewer than 10 million citizens).
Small states can exert influence by amplifying their voices through multilateral diplomacy, embedding themselves into emerging architecture, and selling their story, values, and ideas. They can also leverage their influence by joining regional or global bodies and promoting their interests within frameworks established by larger powers.
Yes, small states can have a palpable influence on the world stage. For example, New Zealand has been able to exert a significant influence on international politics despite its limited hard power. Similarly, Switzerland and the Nordic countries have demonstrated how focused and well-informed diplomacy can produce remarkable results.
