Book reviews : Small states and big powers : Portugal and Iceland’s foreign relations

Abstract

The role of small states in global politics has, for many years, been considered in the shadow of the great powers. Traditionally, these states were characterised as passive and dependent entities with limited influence on the international stage. However, particularly in the post-Cold War period, there has been increasing focus on the foreign policy behaviour of small states, primarily due to the rise of multipolarity and the development of regional cooperation frameworks. Consequently, this has resulted in a theoretical expansion within the field of international relations and an increase in case studies which facilitate the examination of the flexibility, adaptive capacities, and strategic orientations of small states in the realm of foreign policy. Contrary to the traditional alliance theories, shelter theory, which posits that small states pursue cooperative efforts to fulfil their political, security, economic, and social needs, stands out as an emerging theoretical approach in small state studies.