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Small states and international politics: Climate change, the Maldives and Tuvalu

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Abstract

This article examines whether small states – against all (Realist) odds – can have influence on the international political agenda. A theoretical framework is developed grounded in agenda-setting theory and the literature on strategic framing, foreign policy analysis and advocacy networks, resulting in a process-oriented, constructivist approach to international agenda setting. This is used to address three propositions: firstly, small states do have influence on the international agenda; secondly, they generate this influence through strategic framing, and last, they enhance their influence through alliances and advocacy networks. The theoretical framework is applied using two case studies: the small island states of the Maldives and Tuvalu in their fight against climate change.

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Notes

  1. To gain data about the agenda-setting and framing strategies I conducted semi-structured expert interviews with representatives from the states concerned as the givers of the message, representatives from industrialized countries as the receivers, and activists from climate change NGOs as possibly intervening third parties. The interviews were complemented by content analyses of UN General Assembly speeches of representatives of the two countries, as well as speeches of former Maldivian president Nasheed, who used to be very vocal on the topic of climate change. A search of government and NGO websites complemented the analysis.

  2. Interview with an activist in the Pacific region of climate change NGO 350.org, on 27 July 2011.

  3. Interview with two representatives of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 6 July 2011.

  4. Interview with a climate change advisor of Maldivian ex-president Nasheed, on 22 June 2011.

  5. Interview with two representatives of the FCO on 6 July 2011; similar in the interview with a representative of the German Federal Ministry of the Environment (BMU) on 12 August 2011.

  6. Interview with a representative of the BMU on 12 August 2011.

  7. Interview with two representatives of the FCO on 6 July 2011.

  8. The current concentration is already at 394 ppm.

  9. Interview with a high-ranking diplomat of Tuvalu, on 27 June 2011.

  10. The proposal was independently compiled by Ian Fry and UN Ambassador Sopoaga; Email exchange with a climate change negotiator of Tuvalu, on 15 August 2011.

  11. Interview with a climate change advisor of Maldivian ex-president Nasheed, on 22 June 2011; similar in the interviews with two representatives of the FCO on 6 July 2011, a representative of the BMU on 12 August 2011and an activist in the Pacific region of climate change NGO 350.org, on 27 July 2011.

  12. The G77 at the UN is a coalition of 131 developing countries, including China and India (and the Maldives, but not Tuvalu). It emphasizes industrialized countries’ responsibilities, requiring all climate negotiations to remain within the UNFCCC/Kyoto process.

  13. Interview with two representatives of the FCO on 6 July 2011; similar in the interview with a climate change advisor of Maldivian ex-president Nasheed, on 22 June 2011.

  14. Interview with a climate change advisor of Maldivian ex-president Nasheed, on 22 June 2011; similar in the interview with two representatives of the FCO on 6 July 2011.

  15. Interview with a climate change advisor of Maldivian ex-president Nasheed, on 22 June 2011; confirmed in the interview with a representative of the BMU on 12 August 2011.

  16. Interview with a representative of the BMU on 12 August 2011; similar in the interview with two representatives of the FCO on 6 July 2011.

  17. In contrast to the Maldives, Tuvalu does not take part, mainly due to lack of capacity.

  18. The importance of Cartagena was emphasized in the interviews with a climate change advisor of Maldivian ex-president Nasheed, with a representative of the BMU and with two representatives of the FCO.

  19. Interview with a climate change advisor of Maldivian ex-president Nasheed, on 22 June 2011; similar in the interview with an activist in the Pacific region of climate change NGO 350.org, on 27 July 2011.

  20. Email exchange with a climate change negotiator of Tuvalu, on 15 August 2011.

  21. In July 2011, the UN Security Council also recognized climate change as a potential security issue; following the interviewee from the BMU, however, this is more due to efforts of larger states, for example, the United Kingdom.

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    Kevin Jaschik

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Jaschik, K. Small states and international politics: Climate change, the Maldives and Tuvalu. Int Polit 51, 272–293 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1057/ip.2014.5

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