Ten years of ‘Why small states offer important answers to large questions’

Abstract

This response reflects on the twenty-four contributions to the 10-year symposium on our article “Why small states offer important answers to large questions”. We are honoured by the number, diversity and quality of the contributions. Our response covers the story of the article, including our initial aims in writing it, as well as patterns and themes we observe in the symposium. We reflect on the sense of marginalisation that appears to be a common experience of small state scholars; the challenges of trying to answer ‘important questions’ from the perspective of small states; our positionality as outsider researchers; and the innovative form of ‘non-traditional’ area studies that the SST community practices. We conclude with heartfelt thanks to all the contributors for their generosity and insight.