Security Strategies of Small States in a Changing World

• Main Author: Vaicekauskaitė Živilė Marija
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 2017-12-01
• Series: Journal on Baltic Security
• Subjects: small state; security strategies; alliance; neutrality; autonomy; influence; hedging
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1515/jobs-2017-0006

How are small states adjusting to a changing security environment and managing tensions with greater powers in their neighbourhood? Much of the recent literature on small states spends a great deal of time examining challenges to small states and their security policies. Scholars offer several strategies that small states can employ to adjust to a changing security landscape. Small states have two broad options – to focus on their own defence posture, trying to keep their autonomy and stay neutral, or use different cooperative schemes – bandwagon with larger powers, form alliances against dominant powers, or seek shelter and develop hedging strategies. This article reviews survival strategies employed by small states and provides a basis to better understand the behaviour of small states in today’s contested security environment.