Why small states offer answers to important questions in international relations : rethinking power and agency

Abstract

This essay illustrates the importance of small state studies for answering important questions in international relations, such as ‘what is power?’ and ‘what is agency?’. Understanding small state agency as graded and contingent, it argues that a relational perspective on power and agency grounded in the study of small states is key for creating a more pluralist and nuanced understanding of both the challenges and opportunities of individual states and the fabric of international relations. A relational perspective allows us to analyse concrete challenges and opportunities for small states navigating asymmetrical relationships with stronger actors inside and outside international institutions, and to explore the nature, dynamics, and impact of relations in international relations more generally.