How ‘small countries’ are becoming big players

The world is going through a tough time; it would not be wrong to say that, after the Second World War, this is the first time the world is experiencing a dramatic political transformation that is causing some countries to go through the pangs of death, particularly in the era of protracted conflict.

But the difference is between the powerful countries and the small or emerging countries. It is evident that powerful countries, such as the U.S., Russia, Iran, and China, possess significant military power.

All of them are in constant battle, fighting without reconciliation. On the other hand, countries in Europe, due to some degree of detachment from the U.S. under the recent Trump administration, which used to provide them with sufficient security, are now busy strengthening their own survival or security strategies.

So, all these powerful countries are busy using their hard power. By 'Hard Power,' it means the use of tangible resources, such as military force, economic sanctions, or coercive measures, to influence or control the behaviour of other states or actors. It relies on force and tangible influence. These practices have been observed in the mentioned countries.

Coming to the point of small countries. It needs to be considered that they cannot use hard power. They are required to shift their focus to 'soft power.'

Soft power is the ability to influence others through non-coercive means, such as culture, values, diplomacy, and persuasive communication, rather than through military or economic force.

It relies on attraction and the appeal of a country's ideas and policies. For instance, Singapore has become a diplomatic hub, mediating disputes in Asia and beyond.

Talking about Switzerland, Geneva hosts more international organisations than any other city in Europe. Qatar is another prime example of it, hosting the World Cup and mediating between global powers.

Again, Luxembourg is a powerhouse in European finance. Mentioned all countries; they are deliberately using soft power and becoming established key players.

Pragmatically speaking, the world is currently facing significant challenges. Any conflict that has occurred or is about to occur either exhibits the attributes of a prolonged conflict or violates international law, threatening to collapse the international liberal world order.

In that case, when great powers are struggling, small countries are finding new ways to advance their interests, opting for more benign methods rather than the coercive tactics currently employed by powerful nations.

In terms of foreign policy, these small countries are becoming more open to others; their leaders also avoid unpredictability, which is very important for fostering stability in relationships with others and globally.

This approach allows small countries to become powerful and establish themselves as the next benign hegemon.

Apart from that, it's a win-win for small states to become the regional hegemon. For instance, the U.S. has pulled back from Europe; now, even countries not militarily strong enough are trying to cope in different ways or adopt a new strategic culture.

And this shift has already been noticed. From that vantage point, they are also trying to make sure their seats are big players.

A recent example provides a much clearer interpretation. The temporary ceasefire mediation between Iran and the U.S. by Pakistan during the ongoing war demonstrates how negotiations can be used as a diplomatic tool to restore an image and create a more influential one.

Two things Pakistan has attained from this. One, it has shown Asia and its neighbours that they are capable of negotiating high politics situations, which align with hard power, which might help them when they claim the capability of regional hegemony.

Secondly, in that negotiation, they are pushing a message to the world that they can handle the situation diplomatically and achieve a perfect reconciliation, aligning with the approach of soft power.

So, this is how small countries are gaining power through soft power diplomacy, both regionally and, later, globally.

It is a double-win situation that promotes and strengthens a country's strategic behaviour, refurbishes its national image, and contributes to its grand strategy.

Apart from the state's interest, it also provides leaders of those countries with significant legitimisation, leading them to fulfil their role as norm entrepreneurs that contribute to shaping not only public opinion but also, to some extent, the global landscape.

As a result, leaders of these countries today tend to follow a benign hegemonic approach, making them global norm entrepreneurs, and a leader's win means a win for that country. In this way, by following a soft power approach, small countries are becoming big players on the global stage.

mdimran-2020512459@ir.du.ac.bd