Small State Security Research Articles

Self-exclusion as a Security Strategy of Small States

This article analyzes the strategy of self-exclusion in the foreign policy of small states, considering their goals and expected results of this strategy, that is, the main conditions for its implementation, the main determinants, and also identifies and characterizes its varieties and practical manifestations. In this context, global transformations also cause changes related to the positions and roles of small states in world politics and international relations. At the same time, global transformations change the understanding of the security of small states, which in turn leads to an increase in the number of studies in this area. Together, these factors become the rationale for the relevance of studying the security problems of small states in modern conditions. In conclusion, the results of the analysis are summarized, the features of the strategy of self-exclusion, common features and differences in its varieties are shown.

An application of creative problem-solving approach in forming public management competencies

Modern bureaucratic competencies, such as creativity, innovative problem-solving, and critical thinking, have become essential in contemporary public management due to complex challenges in a wide range of areas, including the economy, social welfare, and the environment. This has led to a greater focus on developing these competencies, through innovative methods like creative problem-solving (CPS) in the training of public management specialists. The aim of this study is to identify specific competencies among public management professionals that can be cultivated through the CPS approach and to explore the critical conditions for its successful implementation. The analysis was conducted at the Military Academy of Lithuania, where CPS techniques have been consistently integrated into public management-related subjects for several years, forming a stable foundation for the in-depth investigation. First, the study examines Lithuania’s legal framework for public management and public management education to implement CPS. Second, a qualitative data analysis of open-ended feedback (n = 199) highlights practical application. The findings reveal that the Lithuanian legal context underscores the importance of fostering creativity and innovation among public managers. Furthermore, the practical integration of CPS into public management curricula promotes modern bureaucratic qualities such as teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, innovation, and leadership. However, effective CPS implementation requires additional curriculum time, a supportive and creative learning environment, and strong teacher and student commitment. These findings underscore CPS’s potential as a valuable tool for cultivating public management competencies. Acknowledgment The study is financed from the funds of the study-supporting project “Research on the Management of Security and Defense Institutions of Small States” (General Jonas Žemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy, 2020-12-17, No. V-828).

Initiatives, public trust, and citizen engagement during crises: A comparative analysis across Baltic states

The purpose of this study is to investigate the interplay between government initiatives, public trust in government, and citizen engagement within the context of two distinct crisis scenarios: a global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and an international security crisis caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine. A two-stage biennial survey methodology is used to collect quantitative data. In the first phase, which took place in the context of a global health crisis, an omnibus survey was conducted, involving a randomly selected sample of 3,175 respondents from three Baltic countries: Estonia (n = 1002), Latvia (n = 1017), and Lithuania (n = 1006). In the second stage, which took place in the context of an international security crisis, a random sample was carried out of 2026 respondents from two Baltic countries: Estonia (n = 1002) and Lithuania (n = 1024). The analysis examined causal relationships in political, rational, and social trust.The findings reveal that the relationship between trust in the government and government initiatives that foster political, rational, or emotional trust is stronger during international security crises than during health crises. This means that citizens perceive government behavior as more credible in the context of external security threats. Research on the interaction between government behavior and citizen participation is more nuanced than on public trust. In general, government initiatives have a greater impact on citizen participation than public trust in both crises. This highlights the positive impact of government initiatives in cooperation with the population. AcknowledgmentThe study is financed from the funds of the study-supporting project “Research on the Management of Security and Defense Institutions of Small States” (General Jonas Žemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy, 2020-12-17, No. V-828).

Small state security sector assistance in the age of great power competition

This article argues how Security Sector Assistance (SSA) can be seen as a relevant tool for achieving small states strategic objectives in an indirect manner. The article directs focus toward how small states, by thinking indirectly, can ensure their own security concerns are being managed and remain influential actors in regional and global security politics in an age of great power competition. The soon-to-be two decades long, and still ongoing, global war on terror has defined several small states’ militaries around the world. This makes the current shift toward great power competition even more challenging. The interaction between great powers are dictating international politics; their strategic choices continuously shaping regional and global security. Small states seem to end up with little to no opportunity to influence the overall security-situation, international and regional strategies or politics. Yet, the authors argue there is plenty room for maneuver that allow small states to have a significant impact, and be a valuable partner – not a “free rider.”

Nepal: Internal and External Security Challenges

The post cold war period is marked by a new multi-dimensional strategic environment giving new focus to international relations and security of small states. Though the US is the only superpower, the world surely is moving towards multi-polarity and interdependence where regional powers and international systems have an increasingly powerful role. In such an environment small states are finding themselves even more vulnerable. The world dynamics is changing very quickly and with it security dimensions are also changing which brings security as well as insecurity to the smaller states like Nepal. The Nepali security dynamics cannot remain separate from the world changes and there are internal as well as external changes which are taking place in the country. More importantly with the recent dramatic changes and adaptation of a new constitution an optimistic political tendencies have emerged but with it the emerging internal crisis have emerged. This paper analyzes the new emerging security challenges Nepal is facing in the evolving new world order and at the same time suggests some authenticate credible and viable security options for it. It analyzes the special characteristics of Nepal and its vulnerability to both traditional and new forms of threats. The paper is divided into five sub-headings which include introduction, theoretical understanding, major security challenges, security options for Nepal and conclusion.

Small States in the United Nations Security Council: Legal and Conceptual Aspects versus Practical Perspective

The article focuses on the prospects for work conducted by small states in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and examines two aspects which frame the work of small states in the UNSC – the legal aspect (institutional and procedural) and the conceptual aspect (the concept of small states), comparing them with the work and achievements of small states in praxis. The aim of the article is to provide qualitative and comparative analysis of small states’ work in the UNSC, to outline legal and political interpretation of their activities and to compare legal and conceptual framework with the practical perspective. The research is designed to be relevant for Latvia in the context of its candidature for a non-permanent seat of the UNSC at the elections in 2025, and it analyses cases of Lithuania’s and Estonia’s membership. The author of the article argues that despite the minimal role provided for the small states in the UNSC by international law and the theoretical concept, cases of Lithuania and Estonia show that the practical perspective proves a much higher capability, influence and ability of small states to profile themselves actively within the global agenda while at the same time remaining in the aforementioned legal and conceptual boundaries. This can happen under circumstances where there are minor systemic challengers, lack of triggers for security of small states, and overlapping of the international security agenda and their field of expertise. Keywords: United Nations, Security Council, small states, the Baltic States.

Internal and external perceptions of small state security: the case of Estonia

ABSTRACTThis article concerns small state security from a cognitive perspective and investigates Estonia as a security actor as perceived by all littoral Baltic Sea states. Drawing on unique elite survey and interview data, the article unpacks similarities and differences among internal (Estonian) and external perceptions of security, threats, and capabilities. The investigation is theoretically informed by research on perceptions, specifically image theory and role theory. Our analysis indicates that there are generally speaking quite similar perceptions among internal and external respondents regarding Estonia’s security situation, threat context, and the importance of EU and NATO membership. When it comes to capabilities in the security field, Estonian respondents have a somewhat more positive view than external respondents. Notably, Russian perceptions stand in stark contrast to those of others regarding most dimensions. Relating our results to previous research on national role conceptions, the perceptions we have explicated correspond to three distinct role conceptions – protectee/faithful ally, sub-system collaborator and regional leader.

Determinacija uticaja izbegličke krize na nivou bezbednosti malih država korišćenjem metoda DEMATELa

In the last few years, the refugee crisis is threatening to change the societal, ethnic, confessional and economic flow across the globe. This crisis in its growing and unpredictable development is changing the physiognomy of the modern world and affects the security of all aspects of social life. It also has a particular influence on the security of small states in Europe, especially the ones located along the movement routes of several million migrants. In that same spot are the states of the Balkan Peninsula, including the Republic of Serbia. Actually, the Republic of Serbia represents an important stage of the refugee columns' path. In addition, this state is small by all its characteristics (both quantitative and qualitative); therefore the refugee crisis can leave a sizeable influence on all levels of the state's security. The effects of the crisis on the security levels of small states, in the case of the Republic of Serbia, has been described using the DEMATEL method. In investigating this influence, ninety-two experts for different security levels (from public institutions of Serbia) have been surveyed. The survey involved the effects on the following levels of security: human security, societal and national security.

Was something rotten in the state of Denmark? Three narratives of the active internationalism in Danish foreign policy

The Danish decision to enter US-led coalitions in Afghanistan and Iraq significantly consolidated and strengthened the Atlantic dimension in Danish foreign policy in the period 2001–2009. The period has attracted considerable academic interest, but there seems to be a lack of consensus about how to interpret the Danish decision, which has been characterised as everything from an indication of adaptation, to continuation of the Danish acquiescence to great powers, to path-breaking change in Danish foreign policy to an expression of small state independence. Part of the confusion in the literature is due to the lack of clear conceptual awareness regarding the concepts in use. This article identifies three frames in the literature and contributes to our understanding of the question of change and continuity in small state foreign and security policy by identifying the analytical implications of adopting a clearer understanding of analytical concepts such as adaptation, determinism, activism and internationalism in the Scandinavian context in general and the Danish context more specifically.

Non-state actors and the security of small states: the case of Hezbollah in Lebanon

Non-state actors and the security of small states: the case of Hezbollah in Lebanon

Small states and cyber security

While there is a burgeoning literature on cyber security, little scholarly work has been completed on how cyber security issues are affecting small states. This article attempts to contribute to the debate by exploring whether small states are facing unique or different challenges in enhancing their cyber security. Drawing on the extensive small states literature, the article begins by outlining three conceptual models of small state security, based on alliances, institutional cooperation and norms. These models are then applied to the small state cyber security context. It is argued that institutional cooperation on cyber security issues and the emergence of cyber security norms are being hindered by strategic rivalries between the United States, Russia and China and that military alliances are struggling to adapt to collective defence against cyber threats. The article then explores New Zealand’s cyber security strategy and outlines the various domestic and international challenges that exist for New Zealand policymakers. The article finds: that a globalised cyber security environment is eroding New Zealand’s geographical isolation; that the New Zealand government is struggling to formulate a tenable balance between security and privacy in responding to cyber security issues.

Small State Security Postures: Material Compensation and Normative Leadership in Denmark and New Zealand

Nearly two decades after the Cold War, debate is intensifying among American policy planners and independent commentators over what constitutes a ‘good ally’. Largely absent from this discussion, however, is what international security role may be played by ‘small’ states with industrialised economies and Western values. There is a failure to recognise or appropriately value the importance of the contribution that small states can make in great power politics. This analysis evaluates the relative importance of small allies to American interests and strategies, and the benefits and constraints on such cooperative relationships. There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ small state ally or ‘typical’ security policy or US relationship. Denmark and New Zealand illustrate a useful range of relationships and policies. Contemporary American security politics are visibly influenced by small states that project intellectual leadership. While this premise is not always applicable to the shaping of American strategic postures, it is sufficiently important to assess how small-state security behaviour can play an important role.

Balancing Acts: The Gulf States and Israel

The national interests of weak states are subject both to external pressures, applied by strong states, and internal pressures. It is assumed that due to their weakness, external demands have a gre...

Maldivian National Security - And the Threats of Mercenaries

The issue of protection and security of small states is quite significant in the current interpenetrative world. Most small states belong to the Third World and it is interesting to examine how small sovereign states in the Third World are maintaining their national security from different types of external threats. Some of these external threats involve the activities of transnational mercenaries and terrorists. After the attempted coup in 1988, Maldives is actively publicizing this issue in the international community. This paper attempts to study the protection and security of small states by analysing threats to the Maldivian national security, security assurance under hegemonic stability and Maldivian efforts to overcome such threats.

Regional Powers and Small State Security: India and Sri Lanka, 1977–90. By K. M. de Silva. Washington, D.C.: Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 1995. xvii, 388 pp. $48.50 (cloth).

Regional Powers and Small State Security recounts India's involvement in the affairs of its much smaller neighbour, Sri Lanka, over the question of Tamil separatists in the northern and eastern parts of the island. K. M. de Silva first examines Indian regional ambitions and Indian-Sri Lankan relations during the cold war. He explores the origins of ethnic strife in Sri Lanka and the interests of lndia, with its own large Tamil population, in that strife. He then tells the story of lndia's involvement in three stages. From about 1980, India provided covert support for Sri Lanka's Tamil separatists operating from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. From 1983 to 1987, India attempted to serve as mediator between the separatists and the Sri Lankan government. From 1987 to 1990, India was a combatant against the separatists in Sri Lanka. The author has had special access to confidential Sri Lankan official sources. On the basis of those documents, he further interviewed all politicians and senior officials involved in negotiations on both the Indian and the Sri Lankan side. This book significantly broadens the base of information available for students of South Asia and of ethnic conflict.

Review: Peace & Security: Regional Powers and Small State Security

Review: Peace & Security: Regional Powers and Small State Security

Regional powers and small state security: India and Sri Lanka, 1977-90

Regional powers and small state security: India and Sri Lanka, 1977-90

Regional Powers and Small State Security: India and Sri Lanka, 1977-90

Regional Powers and Small State Security: India and Sri Lanka, 1977-90

The United Nations and the Security of Small States

The United Nations and the Security of Small States

The politics of small state security in the pacific

The politics of small state security in the pacific