Foreign Policy Strategies of Small States in Contemporary International Relations

Abstract

In scholarly literature focusing on small states, there may already be
identified four generations of approaches to the definition of a small state,
as well as to research of small states’ involvement in international relations.
The fourth generation, which appeared in the last decade, is based on the
dynamism and relativism of the concept of power that a small state may
exert in the international environment. Frequently, it makes use of
strategies of small states; however, it failed to systematise them. The paper
contributes to the debate by introducing a basic typology of small states’
strategies that serve to overcome their vulnerability and extend the power
of their foreign policy. At the same time, it provides an alternative
perspective on the application of these strategies. The paper distinguishes
between defensive and offensive strategies in the security and economic
area, and it discusses offensive approaches in fundamental agendas as well
as attempts to create and promote a positive image for small states.

Keywords

small states, foreign policy, power, defensive strategy, offensive strategy

Author Biography

Štěpánka Zemanová

Štěpánka Zemanová, born in 1975, she graduated from the Faculty of International Relations at the University of Economics and from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague. At the moment, she is the Head of the Jan Masaryk
Centre of International Relations at the Faculty of International Relations at
the University of Economics. In her research, publishing and lecturing
activities she specializes in international political aspects of the protection
of human rights and also deals with the issue of European integration. She
is a beneficiary of the grant GA CR "Possibilities and Limits of Czech Foreign
Policy Activism" (13-30724S), a co-author of the monograph The
International Context of the Contemporary Czech Sanction Policy and the
author of the monograph Europeanization of Foreign Policy in the Realm of
Human Rights.

Radka Druláková

Radka Druláková, born in 1973, she graduated from the Faculty of International Relations of the University of Economics and the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague. She currently works as an associate professor of the
Jan Masaryk Centre of International Studies at the Faculty of International
Relations, University of Economics. She specializes in the field of European
integration in matters of justice and home affairs, and also in the analysis of
foreign policy and international relations. She is the author of the
monograph Subsidiarity in the European Union - a Legal Principle or a Useful
Symbol?, a beneficiary of the grant GA CR "The International Context of the
Contemporary Czech Sanction Policy" (P408 / 10/0191) and the author of
numerous academic articles.

Jana Peterková

Jana Peterková, born in 1971, she graduated from the Faculty of International Relations of the University of Economics and currently works at the same faculty as an
assistant professor at the Jan Masaryk Centre of International Studies. She
deals mainly with issues of public and cultural diplomacy, diplomatic studies
and diplomatic protocol in her research. She is the author of the publication
Public Diplomacy, a beneficiary of the grant GA AV "Public Diplomacy and Its
Importance for a State's Position in International Relations" (IAA701150701)
and the author of numerous academic articles.

Pavel Přikryl

Pavel Přikryl, born in 1983, he graduated from the Faculty of International Relations of
the University of Economics in Prague and finished the Anglophone Studies
programme at Metropolitan University Prague. He is currently a PhD
candidate at the Jan Masaryk Centre for International Studies of the Faculty
of International Relations at the University Economics in Prague. In his
research he deals with issues of weak statehood, particularly the
possibilities of dealing with failed states.