Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 12/2013

Size and Influence - How small states influence policy making in multilateral arenas

Maria Nilaus Tarp, Jens Ole Bach Hansen

November 2013

Danish Institute for International Studies

Abstract

This working paper examines distinct strategies for pursuing the comparative advantages of small states in a multilateral world order. The working paper presents a number of cases in which influence has been pursued through utilising the assets available to Denmark as a small country with particular qualities. However, many of the observations are applicable to other cases and countries. Drawing on practical experience from multilateral cooperation, including in particular the UN, the authors argue that in order to capitalize on new opportunities, Denmark and indeed every small country with ambitions to play a role internationally should carefully consider the following questions when investing resources in the multilateral arena: How have developments in the international architecture changed the game – is there a new role for small and smart players? What are the particular assets that small countries have at their disposal compared to larger countries – i.e. what constitutes the comparative advantages of small countries’? How can these assets be used in a ‘smart’ way to compensate for smallness and lack of ‘hard’ means of pursuing policies, and thus allow small states to punch above their weight?