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Small State Discourses in the International Political Economy

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  • Donna Lee
  • Nicola Smith

Abstract

This article supports growing calls to ‘take small states seriously’ in the international political economy but questions prevailing interpretations that ‘smallness’ entails inherent qualities that create unique constraints on, and opportunities for, small states. Instead, we argue that discourses surrounding the ‘inherent vulnerability’ of small states, especially developing and less-developed states, may produce the very outcomes that are attributed to state size itself. By presenting small states as a problem to be solved, vulnerability discourses divert attention away from the existence of unequal power structures that, far from being the natural result of smallness, are in fact contingent and politically contested. The article then explores these themes empirically through discussion of small developing and less-developed states in the Commonwealth and the World Trade Organization (WTO), considering in particular how smallness has variously been articulated in terms of what small states either cannot or will not do.

Suggested Citation

  • Donna Lee & Nicola Smith, 2010. "Small State Discourses in the International Political Economy," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(7), pages 1091-1105.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:ctwqxx:v:31:y:2010:i:7:p:1091-1105
    DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2010.518750
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    Cited by:

    1. Mustafa Ar, 2016. "The Discursive Construction of Global Economic Strategies in Turbulent Times," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 4(10), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Angeon, Valérie & Bates, Samuel, 2015. "Reviewing Composite Vulnerability and Resilience Indexes: A Sustainable Approach and Application," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 140-162.
    3. Athaulla A. Rasheed, 2019. "Role of Small Islands in UN Climate Negotiations: A Constructivist Viewpoint," International Studies, , vol. 56(4), pages 215-235, October.
    4. Samuel BATES & Valérie ANGEON, 2015. "Promoting The Sustainable Development Of Small Island Developing States: Insights From Vulnerability And Resilience Analysis," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 42, pages 15-29.
    5. Hosanoo, Zuberia & Patel, Parth & Prikshat, Verma & Kanungo, Rama Prasad & Gupta, Surkasha, 2024. "Focal firms and interorganisational relationships in small economies: Towards a multi-level theoretical framework for enhancing value co-creation and performance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).

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