The small state in international relations

Þórhallsson, Baldur; Steinsson, Sverrir; Kristinsson, Thorsteinn

doi:10.4324/9780429463167-2

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Ingebritsen (2006) claims that small states can become "norm entrepreneurs" and lead by example internationally by utilizing national knowledge and specificities to their own advantage and deriving a positive image from it. Thorhallsson et al (2019) propose a new theoretical concept, which they call "Shelter Theory." Breaking with methodological nationalism, Shelter Theory rather than considering solely small states is also applicable to all small political units (Ibidem: 15).…”

Section: Switzerland As a Small State: Shelter Theory And Relative St...mentioning

confidence: 99%

China-US Competition

2023

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The present introductory chapter shall set the stage for the edited volume by broadly sketching the contours of the intense strategic competition between China and the United States and its potential to reshape Asia-Pacific and the world order. Briefly, this chapter will also allude to the future probable fallouts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its potential for redrawing geopolitical coordinates and allegiances, for the countries that are in the focus of the present volume.

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Section: Switzerland As a Small State: Shelter Theory And Relative St...mentioning

confidence: 99%

China-US Competition

2023

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“…For example, China has explored oil and gas in Dreki, between Iceland and Norway (Lanteigne, 2016;Dams, Schaik & Stoetman, 2020). Another example of Sino-Icelandic cooperation links to the implementation of a Sino-Icelandic Geothermal Research and Development Center, following the cooperation agreement, signed in 2015, between Arctic Green Energy Corporation, Sinopec Star Petroleum and the National Energy Authority of Iceland (Thorhallsson and Grimsdottir, 2021). These initiatives have the potential to foster the eventual future inclusion of the Nordic states in the Polar Silk Road (Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland;Gunnarson & Niélsson, 2019;Kosonen, 2019).…”

Section: China's Move From a Bystander To A 'Near-arctic' Statementioning

confidence: 99%

Why Is China Going Polar? Understanding Engagement and Implications for the Arctic and Antarctica

Ferreira‐Pereira¹,

Duarte²,

Santos³

2023

The Palgrave Handbook of Globalization With Chinese Characteristics

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“…Unable to uphold their territorial integrity against military great powers, economically vulnerable and with limited political, administrative, and diplomatic capacity in international negotiations, small states have typically opted for one of two grand strategies in international affairs: hiding or seeking shelter. 39 Either small states have chosen to 'opt out' of international relations by pursuing strategies of neutrality and political and economic autonomy to stay out of trouble and avoid any direct confrontation with great powers; or they have chosen to 'opt in' to formal affiliations with great powers and international organizations thereby trading away some of their autonomy for political, economic, and military shelter.…”

Section: Small State Status-seekingmentioning

confidence: 99%

King in the North: evaluating the status recognition and performance of the Scandinavian countries

Røren

Wivel

2022

International Relations

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The Scandinavian states’ pursuit of status in world politics is well documented. However, little is known about whether these endeavors have resulted in higher status for these states. In this article, we suggest that the Scandinavian countries represent a useful case to explore whether similar foreign policy profiles and common club membership equalizes or exacerbates the unequal distribution of status recognition in world politics. To measure the status recognition of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, we use a network centrality measure of diplomatic representation and exchange from 1970 to 2010. We also measure how well the states have performed to increase their status recognition given their available status resources (measured by military capabilities and wealth) and their status-seeking effort (measured by relative diplomatic outreach). Our results show that Sweden has received significantly more recognition and performed much better than both Denmark and Norway in the measured period. We offer three explanations for these developments. First, the spoils of seeking status using the Scandinavian brand is akin to a regional zero-sum game in which Sweden, as the most visible state of the three, is the main beneficiary of the status recognition in the direction of the club. Second, status recognition often lags achievements or increases in status resources because the beliefs of foreign policy practitioners are only updated sporadically. This status lag is especially visible when states struggle to convert their resources into status (Norway), or when they succeed in maintaining their status despite experiencing a drop in status resources (Sweden). Third, an increase in status resources will only influence status recognition if it plays into a corresponding narrative. Sweden, in contrast to the nouveau riche Norwegians, has managed to rearticulate its foreign policy in a way that has attracted recognition in world politics.

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The small state in international relations

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

China-US Competition

China-US Competition

Why Is China Going Polar? Understanding Engagement and Implications for the Arctic and Antarctica

King in the North: evaluating the status recognition and performance of the Scandinavian countries

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