Editorial : mainstreaming the study of small states and territories

Abstract

This paper introduces the field of small sovereign states and subnational jurisdictions, and the closing policy and identity gap between the two sets. It reviews the difficulties of ironclad definitions of what constitutes a small state and looks at the potential for their qualitative (albeit relativistic) assessment. It then acknowledges the even richer population of subnational jurisdictions, some of which have powers that get very close to those wielded by sovereign states. Small States & Territories is then presented as a new academic, on line and open access journal that offers its critical space to mainstream and encourage inter-disciplinary debates featuring such small states and territories and how they handle the challenges and opportunities of small size and scale. By supporting a burgeoning field in area studies, Small States & Territories hopes to build and nourish an academic and policy community that will steadily militate against the current exceptionalism and exoticism of the field.