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Small States Thinking Big: Comparative Analysis of the Czech Presidencies of the Council of the European Union in 2009 and 2022
Monsportová, Daniela ; Kazharski, Aliaksei (advisor) ; Karásek, Tomáš (referee)
This study focuses on the two Czech presidencies in the Council of the EU. It approaches them via the lens of two theoretical concepts - the small state, and Pierre Bourdieu's symbolic power. The main objectives of the thesis are to observe the relevance of the two concepts in application to the selected case (Czech Republic) and to shed light on a relatively new and often overlooked subject. To fulfill the objectives, the study follows qualitative research, utilizing the research design of an embedded single case study. To answer the research question, the thesis firstly focuses on an in-depth discussion of the theoretical underpinnings and gives an overview of the general discourse surrounding the concept of a rotating Council presidency. It then goes on to examine the domestic and international settings of the two presidencies, their manifest and latent goals, and the outcomes of negotiations and communication strategies. By placing the two presidencies against one another, the thesis concludes that while relations between states may be asymmetrical, symbolic power may improve a given state's position within the system once the state uses the granted power wisely and effectively. This notion is demonstrated on the case of the Czech Republic and its two Council presidencies, where the country was...
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A changing security environment and hybrid threats: the use of shelter theory in Maltese security
Ellul, Mark ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Bureš, Oldřich (referee)
In recent years, the security environment of the European Union has changed with security threats and concerns obscuring the traditional boundaries of internal and external security matters. This poses a challenge for Member States by way of being required to necessarily adapt and create structures which address such a new reality. A small southern littoral Member State, Malta has traditionally taken a security approach which emphasizes military guarantees and security assurances. The changing security environment and the rise of hybrid threats may alter this approach. Hybrid threats are actions conducted by state and non-state actors through military and non-military means with the goal of undermining a target. These threats have been present in the past. However, their effectiveness has significantly increased through their proliferation into several domains and the use of innovative technologies in recent years. A specificity of hybrid threats is their use to obscure internal and external security concerns undermining democratic institutions, targeting critical infrastructures, and influencing entire populations. Small state literature considers that because such states have been exposed to non-conventional threats, hybrid threats that impact cybersecurity and critical infrastructures are...
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Instruments of foreign policy of small states - Taiwan's economic and public diplomacy
Průchová, Kristýna ; Fürst, Rudolf (advisor) ; Karásek, Tomáš (referee)
Taiwan is still in partial diplomatic isolation. As a small country with a limited share in world affairs is not only limited by his specific requirements, but also to the instruments that are entitled to use. The only way to escape from this situation means expanding the number of diplomatic allies and efforts for integration into international structures. Recommended tools for small state foreign policy used to achieve its objectives, primarily by soft power. Based on the classification of Taiwan as a small state, the recommended instruments are of public and economic diplomacy. They act through creating a positive image of the country abroad and various forms of foreign assistance. Taiwan needs to gather as much support from the general public in different countries. A strong motivation for him is his effort to build its own space and fixed position for national survival and growth in China's shadow. By defining each of the central concepts, integrating Taiwan into the actual facts and the application of selected instruments for Taiwan's foreign policy terms there is built a connection between the small states issue and areas of economic and public diplomacy as soft power tools of Taiwan's foreign policy.
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Unconventional power of small states: a comparative case study of Lithuania and Taiwan (ROC)
Eidėjūtė, Gabrielė ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
CHARLES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Institute of Political Studies Department of Geopolitical Studies Master's Thesis Unconventional power of small states: a comparative case study of Lithuania and Taiwan (ROC) Abstract: The hypotheses of the leading international relations theories, especially realism, face fundamental criticism for not explaining the behavior of some small states, who lack material power but play an effective and influential role in the international arena. To fill in this oversight, the contemporary discourse of small states challenges the resource-based understandings of power and seeks new avenues to explain how some small states succeed in "punching above their weight." Most recently, Dr. Tom Long (2017) synthesized previous academic researches and proposed that the small state's power can be best understood as originating in three categories: derivative, collective, and particular-intrinsic. This thesis aims to contribute to the argument that small states can possess unconventional power to advance their influence and achieve their national interests. It uses Dr. Tom Long's three categories of unconventional power, as a basis for the comparative case study of Taiwan and Lithuania - two small states that have notoriously challenge the notion of "how a small state should...
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Security Strategy of Small State in the Neighborhood of Great Powers
Bokeria, Levan ; Kučera, Tomáš (advisor) ; Karásek, Tomáš (referee)
The following master`s thesis focuses on small states security strategy choices, namely the case of Georgia. According to neorealist assumptions small states choose their security strategy to minimalize the potential threat to their existence. The case of Georgia is anomalous, as it has increased the security risk by choosing its alliance strategy. This work analyses the factors influencing the preferences in choosing a security strategy by neorealist and constructivist approach. The aim of this work is to research whether the selection of the security strategy is a rational choice and if so what other factors influence this choice
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The Czech and Irish Protocols to the Lisbon Treaty: negotiation and argumentation of small states
Třeštík, Marek ; Knutelská, Viera (advisor) ; Černoch, Jakub (referee)
This bachelor thesis focuses on negotiation strategies used by "small states" that are defined in the theoretical part of the thesis. In the form of a case study, the thesis analyses Irish and Czech approach to negotiations on the exemptions from the Treaty of Lisbon, that were put forward by political representation of both countries. The so- called small states use, due to their limited economic and personal resources, specifically aimed activities in order to gain favorable negotiating positions within the European Union. Both Ireland and Czech Republic are, according to the typology used, classified as "small states". During the ratification process of the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Union encountered obstacles caused by the result of the first Irish referendum and by the stance of Czech President Václav Klaus, regarding the completion of the ratification process. These obstacles led to the formulation of specific demands that were presented to the European Union. This thesis examines the strategies that were used in this stage of the ratification process to achieve legal guarantees for Ireland and Czech Republic. These strategies are analyses using official documents and public statements of national and European political elites. In its conclusive part the thesis states the applied...
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Role of small states in the Persian Gulf with special emphasis on a client-patron relationship
Kocourek, Tomáš ; Hynek, Nikola (advisor) ; Riegl, Martin (referee)
The Bachelor thesis the Role of small states in the Persian Gulf with special emphasis on a client-patron relationship is divided into three parts, whose aim is to show the development of the position of so called small states in the Persian Gulf region in their modern history. The first part deals with the theoretical background of international relations, which is important part of their research. This section explores the most important characteristics of theories of constructivism, neo-realism and theory of regional security complex and also attributes of some important concepts like relationship between patron and client or the way of alliance formation. The second part is devoted to the most important moments of 1980s and first half of 1990s in the Persian Gulf region, which affected development of this region. The third part puts emphasis on some important moments in last 20 years, which gave direction to the development of one of the small states of Persian Gulf - Qatar. The main axis of the second and third part is foremost partnership of these small states with the United States of America, which are in the position of patron. The end of theoretical part is supplemented by a table that contains the basic assumptions for behaviour of small states and the validity of these assumptions in...
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Instruments of foreign policy of small states - Taiwan's economic and public diplomacy
Průchová, Kristýna ; Fürst, Rudolf (advisor) ; Karásek, Tomáš (referee)
Taiwan is still in partial diplomatic isolation. As a small country with a limited share in world affairs is not only limited by his specific requirements, but also to the instruments that are entitled to use. The only way to escape from this situation means expanding the number of diplomatic allies and efforts for integration into international structures. Recommended tools for small state foreign policy used to achieve its objectives, primarily by soft power. Based on the classification of Taiwan as a small state, the recommended instruments are of public and economic diplomacy. They act through creating a positive image of the country abroad and various forms of foreign assistance. Taiwan needs to gather as much support from the general public in different countries. A strong motivation for him is his effort to build its own space and fixed position for national survival and growth in China's shadow. By defining each of the central concepts, integrating Taiwan into the actual facts and the application of selected instruments for Taiwan's foreign policy terms there is built a connection between the small states issue and areas of economic and public diplomacy as soft power tools of Taiwan's foreign policy.
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The role of small states in international relations: The position of Slovak Repulic in the European Union
Zámečník, Jakub ; Sršeň, Radim (advisor) ; Dubský, Zbyněk (referee)
Small states are phenomenon of last decades. Importance of small states is increasing in international relations. Despite that fact small states are in many aspects in disadvantage because of their smallness in comparison to middle and big states. The bachelor thesis pays attention to possibilities how to minimize these disadvantages, how to assert its interests and how to influence decision-making processes in EU. The position of Slovakia in international relations and EU is examined as well as Slovak foreign policy and priorities of Slovakia in EU.
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The perspectives of Scotland in the international relations
Frodlová, Ellen ; Sršeň, Radim (advisor) ; Dubský, Zbyněk (referee)
This bachelor thesis analyses small states and their foreign policy and pays a special emphasis on the position of Scotland as an independent country. It describes the process of devolution, which had been finished with unsuccessful referendum on independence in 2014. In connection with this plebiscite it names the "pro" and "con" arguments, which affect the international relations. The last chapter deals with current position of the region of Scotland in international politics, international organisations (especially in the European Union) and discusses possible perspectives of this region in the future.
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