ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the issue of defining small states and the definitional determinants of this category as present in geopolitical discourse and international relations research. It then outlines the connections between the geopolitical challenges faced by small states and their security issues. Geographic location is a factor that strongly differentiates the group of small states. This is important because small states are not as interesting to researchers of international relations as great powers. Hence, researchers tend to treat small states as a homogeneous and insignificant group. The chapter includes references to the perception of small states in the inter-war period, demonstrating how they learned to benefit from cooperation among themselves and become active members of international organisations. Due to their limited hard power, small states develop survival strategies and address national security issues differently from medium-sized states and great powers. The chapter organises researchers’ views on these strategies. The chapter also presents the specifics of perceiving the geopolitical position of small states, drawing on the achievements of security geography.
