alternative theories of small state studies máté szalai 11.11.2015. máté szalai 11.11.2015
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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