Book review : International organizations and small states : participation, legitimacy and vulnerability

Abstract

Corbett, Yi-chong and Weller’s impressive new volume examines why and how small states act through International Organizations (IOs), despite their limited resources, and why and how IO secretariats seek to involve small states. In Chapter 2, the authors argue that small states emphasize (or perform) their vulnerability to create a niche role in international institutions, draw other actors’ attention to their needs, and ultimately make a difference in IOs. Competently performing vulnerability involves three strategies: rhetorical action, collaboration, and active participation in IOs. In Chapter 3, the authors contend that IO secretariats, meanwhile, are compelled to engage small states and strive to increase these states’ effectiveness in multilateralism to maintain the IO’s “throughput legitimacy” (balancing input and output legitimacy) as a global actor. [excerpt]