Review article
https://doi.org/10.21861/HGG.2012.74.02.05
The Problematics of Defining Small States
Petar Kurečić
; University College of international relations and diplomacy Dag Hammarskjold, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The concept of small states has seldom been challenged in science, because of refusal to accept the possibility of grouping the characteristics of a dynamic world, such as states, into categories. The variability of quantitative and qualitative criteria that have been applied in defining small states open up possibilities of combining two or more criteria, giving us various definitions of small states. By applying two quantitative criteria, area and population, a classification of small states was made, showing high accordance in the number of states with small population and small area. Small states, defined by the criteria that were applied, make up for almost one third of all states in the World. Small states are primarily the result of the decolonization process and the break-up of multinational communist federations. Small island states comprise more than half of all small states in the World. Regardless of their differences, several attributes can be identified that are common to the small states.
Keywords
small states; state area; state population; island states
Hrčak ID:
99630
URI
Publication date:
1.4.2013.
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