A small-island state within a changing security climate : the case of Malta

Abstract

The end of the Cold War led to a seismic change in the political and security milieux. Within this changing context, small states were perceived as being weak and vulnerable since they are ‘powers which lack the resources and ability to maintain an independent international role’. This study seeks to analyse Malta’s role in this changing security milieu following the end of the Cold War. As a small-island state on the periphery of the European continent, Malta participates in the initiatives which help to address the geopolitical realities of the Mediterranean. The use of Malta as a case-study presents a more nuanced view of the role of small states within the context of the new security milieu. It portrays two different viewpoints: that of a small-island state within a changing security scenario and that of a quintessentially Mediterranean state. This qualitative analytical study utilizes a number of primary sources (contemporary newspaper articles, interviews, and leaked diplomatic cables) as well as a selection of secondary sources to investigate Malta’s role in the provision of security within the Mediterranean area.