Asymmetric Neighbours and International Relations: Living in the Shadow of Elephants

Description

With a range of case studies from every continent, the contributors to this book analyse the challenges that arise for states living with much larger neighbors, and the policies they develop to account for this asymmetry. Bringing together the perspectives of bilateral relations and the study of small states, this book analyses a range of scenarios where one or more smaller countries must manage relations with a much larger neighbor or neighbors, from the perspective of the smaller countries. Each case presents different priorities, depending on the relationship between the states concerned, while highlighting the commonalities across the various scenarios. The range of cases and contributors is wide and diverse, with examples including Togo’s relationship with Ghana, Mongolia’s with China, and Colombia’s with Brazil – as well as more widely-known examples such as Canada and the USA, or Australia and New Zealand. A valuable resource for scholars and students of international relations, and public policy of small- and medium-sized states. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Contributors Preface Acknowledgements 1 New Perspectives on Asymmetrical Relations PART I: Asymmetrical Relations in a Bilateral Context 2 Canada and the United States: A Symbiotic Relationship or Complex Entanglement? 3 Dealing with Russia: Georgia’s Endeavor to Escape Trampling 4 Endless Integration of Russia and Its “Difficult Ally” Belarus 5 Legacies of a Trans-Tasman Relationship: The Evolution of Asymmetry between New Zealand and Australia 6 Living in the Shadow of Elephants: The Case of Timor-Leste 7 Living Peacefully or in the Shadow? Elucidating the Relationship between Ghana and Togo PART II: Asymmetrical Relations in a Regional Context 8 The Middle Power Diplomacy of South Korea: Four Strategic Choices vis-à-vis Japan and China 9 Mongolia’s Balancing Act: Sandwiched between a Bear and a Dragon 10 Balancing the Elephant and the Dragon: Nepal’s Struggle for Political In(ter)dependence 11 The Little Red Dot That Roared: Singapore between Giants 12 A Tripartite Dilemma: Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan Relations at the Intersection of Identity and National Interest 13 Stepping Out of the Shade: Qatari-Saudi Relations Amid the Rise of Cosmopolitan Qatar 14 Colombian Economic Foreign Policy toward Brazil: Limited Cooperation and Competition for Regional Leadership Conclusion 15 The Mouse Fights Back: The Maneuvering Room of Smaller States with Respect to Their Larger Neighbor(s) Index