Small states, national identity, and globalization : a comparative analysis of Qatar, Iceland and Singapore

Abstract

Small states in a world of increasing globalization find it difficult to maintain sovereignty and interact with global systems simultaneously. Traditional realist theories view small states as structurally weak and dependent, limited by resources, and a lack of strategic depth. Nevertheless, as seen in the cases of Qatar, Iceland, and Singapore, globalization may be used as a nation-building instrument instead of a risk to sovereignty. This study holds that globalization can be actively used by small states to build and strengthen national identity. By focusing on Qatar as the centre of the action, especially during and after the 2017 Gulf blockade, it demonstrates how energy diplomacy, soft power tools like Al Jazeera, and long term strategies, such as Qatar National Vision 2030, contributed to enhancing national resilience. A comparative study between Iceland and Singapore also depicts some divergent strategies: Iceland was vulnerable due to its economic isolation, whereas Singapore took advantage of its openness and innovation to unify a coherent identity. Using a combination of realist and constructivist outlooks, the present study suggests that globalization, when wisely handled, may allow small states to establish agency, create national discourses, and increase their power in the international system.