From the wings to the footlights: the international relations of Europe's smallest states

Abstract

The smallest of Europe's microstates have experienced a unique, lengthy and incremental passage to sovereignty and their full participation in the organised relations of the international system. This contribution focuses on the long struggle of these states to achieve state equality and allowing their inclusion as equal members in interstate organisations and as legitimate holders of the full rights of legation. Important in this narrative is the incremental strategies of the microstates themselves, the waning interest in further exclusion by the international community, and the pressure and interventions exerted by neighbours, particularly the Council of Europe. The conclusion offers a comparative assessment of the smallest states in the developing world in a similar population class which never faced questions of legitimacy undermining their status and inclusion but which are extremely hard pressed economically in comparison to their wealthy European counterparts.

Keywords:

• sovereignty
• state equality
• microstates
• small island states
• diplomacy
• legitimacy
• international relations
• Andorra
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Monaco
• San Marino
• United Nations

Notes

Two cases merit noting here. In the Seychelles, Premier James Mancham briefly resisted the blandishments and warnings of the Organization of African Unity and the UN Committee of 24. Eventually, however, he too was obliged to accept independence (Ostheimer, 1975: 185). In the Cook Islands, fierce resistance to UN pressure led to the reluctant UN acceptance of association with New Zealand, with the Cook Islanders retaining New Zealand citizenship and the right to opt for sovereignty at any of their choosing (Stone, 1965: 80–81).