Education in small states : growth of interest and emergence of a theory

Abstract

In purely numerical terms, the world is a world of small states. Over half of the world's sovereign states have populations below 5 million, and forty-seven have populations below 1.5 million. The states are scattered in all parts of the world, and some have considerable strategic significance. Yet despite the numerical importance of small states, only recently have they attracted extensive study as a category in their own right. This paper charts the growth of interest in small states as a field of academic investigation. It begins with the general picture, before turning to the specific subfield of education. The paper highlights the major thrusts of the literature, and charts an emergent theoretical framework.