Small State Relations in a Post-Cold War Order : A Case Study of North Macedonia

Abstract: During the Cold War, small states were often side-lined as unimportant or too weak to make an impact on the world stage. However, as the Cold War ended, more smaller states emerged along the emergence of several international institutions and increased focus on international laws, which smaller states sought to uphold through participation in the international forums such as the UN. Small states are present on all sides of the world and greatly differ from each other in terms of their geography, history, language, culture, economy, and population.  However, previous research on small states are relatively scarce, and are dominated by a handful of theoretical perspective that have existed since the Cold War. Much have changed since the end of the Cold War, with new international norms and many new global challenges. The emergence of new small states that were established after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia brought new complex security challenges. The young state of North Macedonia is both small state that is located in an area of potential conflict and instability.     The aim of this study is to renew the discussion on small states and assess whether the dominant theories are adaptable to our contemporary world, by applying each theory on the case of North Macedonia. The study has been conducted as a qualitative case study of North Macedonia by using previous research on small states and North Macedonia itself. Four theoretical approaches are included in the study, those being realism, critical/Marxism, neoliberal institutionalism, and constructivism. The study draws from both abductive and deductive approach.  The study showed that although each theory is applicable to North Macedonia, they were not sufficient enough on their own, as independent theories, in understanding the case as a whole. The study concludes that despite the shortcomings of the theories, they should not be regarded as trivial when analysing other small states since future findings may greatly differ from the case of North Macedonia. In short, there needs to be more research on small states.