03809namaa2200433uu 4500 doab132283 oapen 20260305123954.0 m o d cr|mn|---annan 240104s2024 xx |||||o ||| 0|eng d 9781003356011 9781003356011 9781032410487 9781032410555 10.4324/9781003356011 doi oapen oapen eng dc JP bicssc Kolnberger, Thomas edt Agency, Security and Governance of Small States A Global Perspective Taylor & Francis 2024 1 online resource text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Free-to-read Unrestricted online access star Agency, Security and Governance of Small States examines what seems to be a defining paradox of Small-State Studies: the simultaneous coexistence (and possible co-dependence) of vulnerability and opportunity related to small-state size. This book analyses small states within the framework of this apparent paradox. Traditionally, Small-State Studies has focused on three guiding questions: what constitutes a 'small state'? What explains small-state influence in global affairs? Are small states truly vulnerable to security threats given the expansion of multilateralism and regionalism throughout the world? This book contends that new questions should be asked which recognise the important shifts in twenty-first century security paradigms, to better understand how some states deploy their smallness as a resource for agency in supranational contexts. By varying historical, geographical, security, and governance contexts, the book embraces a most-different-cases approach. The historical perspective is often neglected in Small-State Studies but contributes to understanding how small states have often, over time, transformed perceived insecurity into agency. By focusing on different world regions, the authors enable the comparative analysis of collective actions, and the creation and implementation of institutions for 'common sense purposes' within a geographical region. Of particular contemporary importance, the book includes contributions which contend with hard-security issues alongside other soft-security challenges. The comparison of case studies confirms that hard-security vulnerability and soft-security opportunities seem to be two sides of the same coin, which reinforces the book's focus on small-state paradoxes, and raises the question of whether smallness can be considered the defining characteristic of governance in these countries. This book will have a broad appeal because of the different world regions it analyses. It will be of interest to postgraduate students, scholars, and researchers of international relations, security, sustainability, governance, development, and political economy, as well as Small-State Studies. All rights reserved http://oapen.org/content/about-rights English Politics & government bicssc Small State; Politics; IR; Extantism; ASIDS; Vulnerability; Opportunity; Multilateral; Development; Political Economy; Agency; Security; Region; GLOBSEC; Status; Democracy; Global; Governance; International Relations; Securitisation; NATO; Sustainable; Foreign Policy; Sovereignty; Domestic; Dependence; Paradox Koff, Harlan edt Koff, Harlan oth Kolnberger, Thomas oth DOAB Library. https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/132283 0 Free-to-read: DOAB: description of the publication 93283 93283