Alternative theories of Small State Studies

Máté Szalai

11.11.2015.

The main assumptions of mainstream SSS

Size determines foreign policy

Lack of resources creates vulnerabilities and weakness

Lack of resources

Weakness

Participation in international organizations

Alliance-policyA/P/D

1. Basic ideas of Social Constructivism

2. How can we apply Social Constructivism on Small States?

3. Fundamental writings

4. Five conclusions

1.1. The context of the rise of social constructivism

1980s: many social theories have been falsified

States do not act like they supposed to

1990s: emergence of new theories

1992: Anarchy is what States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics

1999: Social Theory of International Politics

1.2. Anarchy is what states make of it

1. Introduction: the neo-neo debate

2. How did the self-help system evolve from anarchy?

3. How can the self-help system be altered into a more cooperative system?

The Neo-Neo debate

Main question of the neo-neo debate: what are the main determinants of foreign policy? The structure or institutions?

Absolute or relative gains?

But the starting point is the same Rational logic

Connection between anarchy and self-help system

The Neo-Neo debate

The anarchic nature of the interstate system does not necessarily lead to a self-help structure

It is a question of inter-social processes

Anarchy can lead to the self-help system but to other systems as well

States react differently to other actors who they consider friends or foes Anarchy cannot explain that

Reason: structure of identity and interests Actors do not have a specific and determined set of interests

Interests can only be interpreted in a given social context

Actors acquire identities – relatively stable, role-specific understandings and expectations about self – by participating in such collective meanings

The nature of Anarchy

State, identity and interest

State Identity

Interests

2. How did the self-help system evolve from anarchy?

Institutions: manifestation of a stable set of identities and defined interests Self-help is an institution which evolved from the state of anarchy in order to

maintain the actors’ security Two different perceptions of security

Competitive

Individual

This is the break between neoliberalism and neorealism

1.2. How did the self-help system evolve from anarchy?

Interests and institutions are socially constructed structures which are formed through interactions – we have to see what was before that

State and government

Urge to survive

1.2. Emergence of the self-help system

Two states (Ego and Alter) interact with each other

Ego acts, alter defines the act of ego, alter acts accordingly

The role of first impression is crucial

Self-help security systems evolve from cycles of interaction in which each party acts in ways that the other feels are threating to the self, creating the expectations that the other is not to be trusted (…) the self is forced to mirror such behaviour

1.2. Emergence of the self-help system

Why did the self-help system evolved? Because of ‘predition’

An aggressive state appears. How do others behave?the acts of Alter are determined by previously constructed interests and

identities

1.2. Emergence of the self-help system

The acts of Alter depend on The presence of collective identity

The presence and extent of the feeling of collective threat

The timing

For example USA and Europe: collective identity

GCC: individual

1.2. Emergence of the self-help system

3. How does a state behave?

1.3. How does a state behave?

Sovereignty International System

Foreign Policy

Security

1.3. How does a state behave?

Identity

Behaviour

InterestsSocialization

2. How can we use SC in small state studies?

Small states act as weak because they have been socialized this way

If sovereignty derives from social relations and not power, small states does not have a security deficit

Nothing is significant by itself, only in a given social context Significant facts and factors are significant because we think they are

3. Fundamental writings

Dan Reiter (2006): Learning, Realism, and Alliances: The Weight of the Shadow of the Past.

Christine Ingebritsen (2006): Norm Entrepreneurs: Scandinavia’s Role in World Politics.

Alan Chong (2010): Small state soft power strategies: virtual enlargement in the cases of the Vatican City State and Singapore.

3.1. Dan Reiter (2006): Learning, Realism, and Alliances: The Weight of the Shadow of the Past

Alliance-policy

Realism versus the theory of learning

Facing unexpected situations, decision-makers tend to rely on personal, institutional and socio-psychological experiences

H1: Small states learn from their own history

H2: Small states learn from other’s mistakes as well

H3: Small states prefer alliance-policy according to their geopolitical situation, the nature of the direct threat, the size of the ally, etc.

The results

H1: 111/127

H2: 89/127

H3: less than half

„ An enlightened version of realism, then, would recognize the important role decision-makers’ beliefs play in forming foreign policy and would acknowledge that exploring the origins of these beliefs can substantially improve our understanding of world politics”

3.2. Norm Entrepreneurs: Scandinavia’s Role in World Politics

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland

Common wisdom: the powerful do as they will, and the weak do as they must

Norms in IR Norm emergence

Norm acceptance

Norm internalization

NORM ENTREPRENEURS

Why Scandinavia?

Remote geopolitical position

No intervention

Limited material capacities

Innovative policy-making

Unique domestic institutions

Attractive norms

Environmental norms• 1970s• Sustainable

development (1987, Brutland report)

Multilateral security• 1970s: Helsinki

Process• 1990s: Oslo Process

Global welfare• Welfare state• Nowadays: basic

income

Alan Chong (2010): Small state soft power strategies: virtual enlargement in the cases of the Vatican City State and Singapore.

”The art of survival for small states includes attempts to enlarge their importance to the international community”

”Smallness, being geographically limited, can be psychologically tactical in disarming major powers’ suspicions of the small state’s motives”

Three ways for virtual enlargement

promotion of national political economy potential: demonstrable competence in the management of economic activities affecting the wealth of a government and its population.

models of good governance: convincing projection of a model society and organizational showcase abroad for objectives of national interest

diplomatic mediation: stems from the moral capital derived from the domestic reputation and international

record of small state

aspiration towards the pacific settlement of interstate disputes through the building of trust

4. Five conclusions

1. Small states have wider leverage than previously expected

2. Societal factors may outsmart the strong

3. Small states can be highly innovative – there are lessons to be learnt

4. Small states can affect political outcomes in international relations

5. Moral balance of power