Book review : Handbook on the politics of small states

Abstract

Why study the politics of small states? As a scholar focussing on the security and political power of small states, I can think of many reasons. One of them is that small states make up the majority of states in the international system. Although small states receive less scholarly attention compared to larger states, there is an increased interest in the topic. The Handbook on the Politics of Small States is a welcome addition to a growing and important body of literature on small states. Edited by two renowned scholars in the field of small states, i.e. Godfrey Baldacchino and Anders Wivel, the book provides detailed discussions and analyses of small state politics around the world. The discussions and analyses show that small states share several domestic and international challenges, but vary considerably in their capacity to meet and handle them. Based on the findings, several lessons are drawn for understanding and conducting small state politics.