Very little has been written on the literature between small and middle power states. The assumption in academic IR literature is that the size of small states automatically makes them vulnerable...Show moreVery little has been written on the literature between small and middle power states. The assumption in academic IR literature is that the size of small states automatically makes them vulnerable and weak, without any power to shape decisions of middle power states. This thesis examines the relationship between small states, the Pacific Islands, and regional middle power Australia. In order to answer the question “How do the Pacific Island States, as small states, attempt to exert influence on climate change decisions over middle power state Australia in the international environment?” this study employs a qualitative research design of small and middle power states. By showing collective leadership through the United Nations, the PIS are able to influence debates and agenda-setting of middle power states on the norm climate change at the international level. However, the influence of small states on Australia’s climate policies is limited and depends on the receptiveness of the Australian government. Yet, the current geopolitical competition between Australia and China occasionally offers the PIS opportunities to pressure the Australian government.Show less
It is commonly argued that Russia has initiated the Eurasian Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union to oppose the rising economic influence of the European Union and, to a lesser extent,...Show moreIt is commonly argued that Russia has initiated the Eurasian Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union to oppose the rising economic influence of the European Union and, to a lesser extent, China in the post-Soviet region. Even though Belarus has been a member of both organizations, it has not primarily focused on strengthening trade relations with both institutions’ member states. Instead, the post-Soviet country attempts to pursue a multi-vector foreign trade policy in which it seeks to develop (new) trade relations with countries other than Russia to diminish its trade dependency to its Eastern neighbor. However, since 2010, two of the most prioritized vectors have been the European Union and China. Hence, the objective of this thesis has been to examine the impact of Belarus’s membership in the Eurasian Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union on its ability to intensify trade relations with the European Union and China and focuses on the period 2010-2018. In this way, this research attempts to explore the understudied relationship between multilateral economic organizations and small states’ foreign trade policies and to contribute to the limited existing literature on Belarus’s multi-vector foreign trade policy. To answer the research question, qualitative research is done. Data has been collected through a document analysis, a discourse analysis and five qualitative interviews. The main finding of this thesis is that while Belarus’s membership in the ECU and the EEU has impacted its foreign trade policy in a wide range of areas, being part of these institutions has neither weakened nor expanded its ability to intensify trade relations with the EU or China. Moscow has not used its economic preponderance within both organizations to hinder Belarus from developing closer trade relations with China or the EU.Show less
The advent of cryptocurrencies is the latest evolution in the marriage of monetary systems and technology, at its heart being digital assets; the oldest and most well-known of these is bitcoin. The...Show moreThe advent of cryptocurrencies is the latest evolution in the marriage of monetary systems and technology, at its heart being digital assets; the oldest and most well-known of these is bitcoin. The subject of cryptocurrencies has proved extremely divisive, from those who believe they will ultimately replace national currencies to those who see them as a digital incarnation of an anachronistic system like the gold standard. These divisive opinions have manifested themselves through government regulatory approaches as well, with some governments seeking outright bans on cryptocurrencies within their borders. Some generally smaller states however, are pursuing establishment of flexible and progressive regulatory frameworks, seeking to become financial technology hubs for cryptocurrency development and trade. This thesis explores why these progressive regulatory responses to cryptocurrencies are being pursued by certain European ‘crypto-friendly’ states, and use both a case study and international relations theory - namely small state theory as developed by Peter Katzenstein in his seminal work ‘Small States in World Markets’ (1985) - in an attempt to understand why these differences exist.Show less
