Why are Small States a Security Concern in the Asia-Pacific?

While security studies has traditionally focused on 'great' and 'middle' powers, this chapter examines the concept of 'small states'. It begins by considering the contested definition of a 'small state', with popular measures based on the size of a state's population, economic indicators, and military capacity. The chapter then proposes a definition of a small state and identifies the small states in the Asia-Pacific. It also identifies a subcategory of 'microstates' which tend to experience particular vulnerabilities that differentiate them from other small states. The chapter concludes by applying the security studies theories discussed in the book's introduction to small states in order to consider how they pursue their security. Applying these theories to small states can tell us interesting things about how states use their relative capabilities to undertake action and to influence other states in the region.