Traditionally, small states opted either for neutrality or joining alliances such as NATO. Yet over the past couple of years an interesting heterogeneity of responses could be observed in these sub-groups, both vis-à-vis Russia and China. Some neutral countries chose to give up their neutrality, some did not. Some neutral countries sent weapons to Ukraine, some have not. Even among NATO members the picture was varied: Hungary did not send any weapons, and continued to maintain ties with Russia, while other similar-sized countries in similar geographical positions took a resolute stance against Moscow. Also, there has been great regional variation on de-risking from Beijing, with some states embracing the idea while others hesitated.

This conference aims to take stock and discuss the various responses small and middle-sized states have used to address these new security-related challenges. How can we account for this variation both between and within these sub-groups? What are the main drivers of foreign policy in the region? What future can we envisage for Europe’s security architecture? Integrating the perspectives of eminent scholars in the field, this conference aims to give an answer to these questions, showing that instead of the traditionally restrictive imagination on the possibilities of small states, in reality they showed a remarkable heterogeneity and creativity in addressing the changing security architecture in Europe.

Programme:

14 November 2024

18:00: Carl Lutz Lecture - Robert Diethelm: How to avoid being on the menu when not sitting at the table - not just a European question

15 November 2024

09:00-18:00: Conference

The detailed preliminary programme is available here.

Please register HERE for the Carl Lutz Lecture on 14 October 2024.

Please register HERE for the conference programme on 15 October 2024. 

This event is the first of a series of four conferences in the context of the “Changing Orders Research Programme – Focus Area 1: Strategic Challenges for Small and Middle-sized States” of the Andrássy University Budapest, supported by the Swiss Contribution with the national co-financing of the Hungarian Government. The Swiss Contribution is a programme launched by the Swiss Confederation to support the Member States that joined the European Union since 2004. The programme, which has entered its second period in 2022, aims to reduce economic and social disparities in the EU, and to strengthen bilateral relations between Switzerland and the beneficiary EU Member States.