The Smart Power of Small States

This book explores how small states can wield significant influence in international relations through strategic diplomacy and smart power. It challenges the traditional perception of small states as passive or powerless, offering a compelling case for their agency in global affairs. The chapters examine how Qatar combines mediation, alliance-building, and selective deterrence to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes. Drawing on real-world cases, including Qatar’s role in international negotiations and conflict resolution, it demonstrates how small states can shape regional and global outcomes. It critically engages with dominant international relations theories, highlights the limitations of Eurocentric narratives, and offers an alternative lens for understanding global power dynamics. This accessible and timely study is essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in foreign policy, Gulf politics, or small-state diplomacy. It reveals how smart power strategies redefine the possibilities available to smaller nations in today’s multipolar world.
Dr. Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi is a Senior Expert at the Centre for International Policy Research and a Research Associate at the Global Institute for Strategic Research at HBKU. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the Australian National University, specializing in smart power, small-state strategy, and Gulf regional politics.

Dr. Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi is a Senior Expert at the Centre for International Policy Research and a Research Associate at the Global Institute for Strategic Research at HBKU. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the Australian National University, specializing in smart power, small-state strategy, and Gulf regional politics.