ABSTRACT

This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in this book. The book challenges each of the assumptions. At the same time, Small States and Status seeking offers some promising potential solutions to perennial problems that have plagued status research. It brings the other side of the coin to light, a subordinate actor well down the hierarchy from the reigning great powers, yet one that is happy with the status it has achieved and maintained. Measured against great powers in terms of military power, population and territory, Norway is undeniably small. For Norway, at least, conspicuous do-goodism seems to work in realizing the same basic drive for status that the standard model assumes generates competition and war. The standard model exemplifies the tendency to use status motivations to explain socially suboptimal behaviour. Leaders of other states perceive the link between the newly assertive behaviour and a status claim, and reject the claim by resisting the behaviour.