Book review : The influence of small states on superpowers : Jamaica and U.S. foreign policy

Abstract

For scholars of small states and their foreign policies, this book is a must read. The text is theoretically, empirically and bibliographically rich. Bernal’s primary aim is to challenge the received wisdom of international relations theory that small states cannot effectively influence the foreign policies of superpowers like the United States. To mount this challenge, Bernal provides an in-depth examination of what he claims were successful attempts by Jamaica to influencing US foreign policy in the areas of foreign aid, debt relief, narcotics cooperation, and trade related to expanding the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI).