How do small states approach their security problems? What types of strategic instruments exist for small states, and when and why are certain strategies chosen rather than others? The security of `weak' states is problematic, demanding trade-offs in the decisions made. Using 19th century Swedish security policy as an example, it is argued here that small states, in their pursuit of security and autonomy, face a dilemma between abandonment and entrapment, leading to a choice between balancing between great powers or making an approach to one of them. This hard choice confronts both non-aligned and allied states.
It is also argued that a focus on the images of decision makers is required as a complement to traditional realist theory in order to gain an in-depth understanding of small state security decisions.
This book is special in its focus on small, non-aligned states. Most studies on balance-of-power behaviour limit their analysis to alignment decisions. The study also expands the domain of image constructs by introducing perceived regime characteristics into the analysis, besides images of power and intentions.
Audience: Scholars and students interested in foreign policy analysis, particularly small-state behaviour. The book points to the importance of beliefs and ideas in security policy.

Keywords

Authors and Affiliations

Lund University, Södra Sandby, Sweden

Ole Elgström

Bibliographic Information

Book Title: Images and Strategies for Autonomy
Book Subtitle: Explaining Swedish Security Policy Strategies in the 19th Century
Authors: Ole Elgström
Series Title: Library of Public Policy and Public Administration
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1826-4
Publisher: Springer Dordrecht
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive
Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2000
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-7923-6571-6Published: 30 September 2000
Softcover ISBN: 978-90-481-5561-3Published: 06 December 2010
eBook ISBN: 978-94-017-1826-4Published: 11 November 2013
Series ISSN: 1566-7669
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: X, 180
Topics: Political Science, Social Sciences, general

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Authors:

Sections

Buy it now

Buying options

Other ways to access

Table of contents (9 chapters)

Front Matter

Back Matter

About this book