The Foreign Policy of Small States: Normative Power as an Impact Factor in International Relations

Abstract

International Relations as a sub - discipline of political science only partially defined states as the main actors, focusing primarily on the relationship and positioning of great powers that define the world politics on their own. Small states have remained on the margins of scientific interest, limited by different quantitative and qualitative determinants, the ability to influence and project power in international relations, as well as by representing figures on the chessboard on which the main moves are those drawn by great powers. By fulfilling one of its most important foreign policy goals of joining NATO NATO NATO NATO in 2009 and just before entering the European Union in July 2013, Croatia faces the need to redefine its foreign policy priorities, taking into account the strength and limitations of the position of small state in the international community. In this regards the authors attempt to demarginalize a scientific discourse on small states by focusing on the following aspects: (1) definition of small states and their role in the international community, (2) an analysis of the foreign policy of small states, (3) study of multilateralism (joining alliances and regional integration as the most common foreign policy strategies of small states) (4) theoretical analysis of the normative power as a factor in foreign policy influence of small states, and (6) by using cases of Nordic countries to demonstrate how small states increase their influence in international relations by uploading norms; at the same time providing action guidances to Croatia as a future small EU member state.