Weak States in International Relations Theory

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Hanna Samir Kassab

   Pages 1-25

3. International Security and Weak States

   • Hanna Samir Kassab

   Pages 27-41

4. Weak State Vulnerability as an Intervening Variable

   • Hanna Samir Kassab

   Pages 43-64

5. Interests in Terms of Survival: The Function of Weak States

   • Hanna Samir Kassab

   Pages 65-86

6. Strength in Weakness: Weak State Opportunistic Behavior

   • Hanna Samir Kassab

   Pages 87-102

7. Weak States and Great Power Grand Strategy

   • Hanna Samir Kassab

   Pages 103-120

8. Weak State Autonomy: Armenia and St. Kitts and Nevis

   • Hanna Samir Kassab

   Pages 121-162

9. Autonomy yet Civil War: Cases of Lebanon and Cambodia

   • Hanna Samir Kassab

   Pages 163-207

10. Conclusions

    • Hanna Samir Kassab

    Pages 209-216

11. Back Matter

    Pages 217-242

    PDF

This book seeks to explain why weak states exist within the international system. Using the cases of Armenia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Lebanon, and Cambodia, the author argues that, if a state is weak and vulnerable, then it can practice an unexpected degree of relative autonomy unfettered by great powers.

• International relations theory
• International Relations
• Foreign Policy
• International Security
• Economic Development
• International Political Economy
• State behavior
• State Building
• International System
• Small States
• Weak States
• Middle Powers
• Theory Building
• Armenia
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• Cambodia
• Lebanon
• US foreign policy
• Russian foreign policy
• Iranian foreign policy
• economy
• foreign policy
• international relations
• Policy
• political economy

'Since the field of international relations is dominated by varieties of realism, especially structural realism, it is largely irrelevant for understanding the policies of 95 percent of the states in the world. It really focuses on the competitive relations of the great powers and little else. In this innovative study Hanna Kassab demonstrates that, with modifications of a few of its assumptions, a realist perspective can help one understand that the behavior of weak states is not limited to bandwagoning.'

Roger E. Kanet, University of Miami, USA

Hanna Samir Kassab is Visiting Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department at Northern Michigan University, USA. He has published articles on International Relations Theory, National Security, politics of the Far-right and Nationalism, acts of Political Suicide, and Foreign Policy.

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