Foreign Policy Strategies of Small States in Contemporary International Relations

  • Štěpánka Zemanová
  • Radka Druláková
  • Jana Peterková
  • Pavel Přikryl
Keywords: small states, foreign policy, power, defensive strategy, offensive strategy

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.

Author Biographies

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

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

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

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.

Issue
Vol 50 No 3 (2015)
Section
Consultations

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