Why Small States are analytically useful for International Relations
Some small states have been in the news recently. Qatar was in the news, and so was Djibouti, a small African country located where the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea meet. Both countries are in strategically important locations. Qatar sits on one of the world’s largest gas deposits, and is in the Persian/Arab Gulf.
Both countries are also locations where great power politics are playing out. Qatar has become a battleground for two regional powers: Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia, with its other allies in the Gulf, decided to impose an embargo on Qatar, attempting to force it to change its foreign policies, to uncertain effect. They illustrate how great powers want to influence other countries.
Djibouti is hosting multiple militaries on its soil. It already hosts Camp Lemmonier, initially a French facility, which has since been dominated by American forces. The Japanese has a presence, and so the French. They will now be joined by a Chinese military presence.

These small countries are useful, especially when powers become interested in them. They become broad indicators for how the different powers are exercising their influence. The situation for Djibouti is very interesting; Camp Lemmonier is a major facility for Africa Command, and has become an important place for America’s War on Terror in the Horn of Africa area. China, on the other hand, has a deeper focus in this part of Africa, concerned about trade. China is building an Addis Ababa-Djibouti City railway line, connecting these two countries. The US seems to be more concerned about narrow military interests. This is further exemplified by the Dire Dawa facility in Ethiopia — an airstrip used by the United States to conduct military operations.

Are the Ehtiopians and the Djiboutis playing off United States and China? It’s difficult to say. But one can imagine when these countries will be forced to make tough decisions as well, if they might ever be forced to evict a great power from their country, perhaps. What is complicating in that part of the world is Eritrea, a country that has been having conflicts with Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Bhutan is another small state caught literally between two large powers — China and India. A military standoff could be happening there — China is building a road into disputed territory between Bhutan and China, and India is obliged to support Bhutan.
What do we make of all these? I hope these examples have been quite clear in that some small states are relevant in looking at how major powers exercise their influence.

