https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/75345 2026-04-04T18:03:58Z 2026-04-04T18:03:58Z Hogenauer, Anna-Lena Sarapuu, Kulli Trimikliniotis, Nicos https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/74992 2026-01-12T12:10:02Z 2021-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Guest editorial : small states and the governance of the COVID-19 pandemic Authors: Hogenauer, Anna-Lena; Sarapuu, Kulli; Trimikliniotis, Nicos Abstract: While the COVID-19 pandemic has been a global problem, small states have faced specific challenges related to their size. The economies of small states tend to be particularly dependent on open borders and the free movement of people: either in the form of tourists or because of mobile workers. The crisis disrupted established patterns in both of these spheres. At the same time, small states also benefitted from advantages. Small size tends to be related to higher social cohesion, flexible crisis management and easier tracking of infection chains. Despite the diversity of small states, their situation in the ‘Corona crisis’ is expected to differ from that of larger states. The aim of the section is to explore the small state governance of COVID-19. The articles focus on the challenges and opportunities faced by small states. The authors raise questions about the sustainability of economies with strong reliance on certain sectors, and emphasize the importance of diversification and digitalisation.

2021-05-01T00:00:00Z Olafsson, Jon Gunnar https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/74991 2026-01-08T11:27:10Z 2021-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Communication, politics and COVID-19 in Iceland : the small state dimension Authors: Olafsson, Jon Gunnar Abstract: Authorities all over the world have faced enormous challenges in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, including how to circulate up-to-date and accurate information to the general public concerning the novel coronavirus. In light of this, there has been much focus on studying information dissemination regarding COVID-19. Most of the attention in this communication research has been on large states such as the United States and the United Kingdom but smaller states like Iceland have mostly been absent in these studies. The aim of this article is twofold. First, it adds the Icelandic case to the COVID-19 communication research literature by examining findings from two representative surveys that were conducted in Iceland in June and August 2020 concerning COVID-19 and information dissemination, and how these findings compare to similar studies from larger states. Second, building on limited existing academic work on political communication in small states, I explore how the dissemination of information concerning the COVID-19 pandemic might be, to some extent, different in Iceland than in larger states because of the size variable.

2021-05-01T00:00:00Z Hansson, Pia Stefansdottir, Audur Birna https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/74990 2026-01-08T11:49:20Z 2021-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Nordic solidarity and COVID-19 Authors: Hansson, Pia; Stefansdottir, Audur Birna Abstract: When the world was faced with the enormous challenge of COVID-19 at the beginning of 2020 Nordic solidarity and cooperation does not seem to have materialized. The Nordic countries have a strong regional cooperation framework and a long tradition of collaboration and tend to be perceived as a unified region in the international arena. Therefore, when confronted with a global crisis of this magnitude one would expect them to act in solidarity. However, joint political messages at the beginning of the crisis only stressed regional solidarity in already existing areas of cooperation. This lack of cooperation goes against small state theories that predict that small states seek international and regional cooperation to compensate for their structural weaknesses. In this paper we will examine how the Nordic countries reacted at the beginning of the crisis and explore whether the responses to the crisis reveal limits to Nordic cooperation and solidarity specifically.

2021-05-01T00:00:00Z Wood, Luke B. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/74989 2026-01-08T11:27:28Z 2021-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Small states in international health crises : Iceland’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic Authors: Wood, Luke B. Abstract: This paper analyses Iceland’s macroeconomic policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic during the first phase of virus contagion in Western Europe (January-June 2020). The country’s smallness, as evidenced by trade openness and economic specialisation, provided for acute crises in Reykjavík’s fight against the virus as a lack of local manufacturing forced the government to procure medical supplies, equipment, and pharmaceuticals from a crowded and competitive international market. The country’s reliance on tourism resulted in massive economic loss as North Atlantic economies implemented travel restrictions and closed national borders. However, the Icelandic government’s massive welfare and economic rescue packages kept the national economy afloat, earning praise from world markets. The intervention of the Icelandic Central Bank into currency markets, in particular, proved sufficient in stabilising the value of the national currency. Reykjavík’s skilful macroeconomic governance during spring and summer 2020 allowed the government to access revenue independent of taxation. This paper finds that although Iceland was disadvantaged by its size during critical phases of virus spread, the country’s smallness and control of an independent national currency enabled a robust macroeconomic response to stabilise wages and the national economy, mitigating the impact of the concurrent global recession.

2021-05-01T00:00:00Z