Abstract
In social science, and particularly in international relations (IR) and comparative politics scholarship, the persistence of the Westphalian model not only suppresses other frameworks of analysis, but in the area of migration also results in inaccuracy and other forms of distortion. Such distortion ironically is already present in the persistent neglect of small sovereign states in this scholarship. This paper presents examples of migration trends in nine small sovereign states—Bhutan, Bolivia, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mauritius,The Seychelles, Tonga, and Vanuatu, with a twofold aim. First is to illustrate the extremely diverse nature of migration, even within and among the world’s smallest sovereign states. Each of the above embodies a unique migration character, reciprocally influenced by its history, socioeconomic status, ecology, and bordering states and regions. Second is to illlustrate comparatively the impact of this uniqueness at a regional level, which the selections from Europe, Africa’s Indian Ocean region, and Oceania exemplify. By choosing some of the world’s smallest sovereign states, this paper confronts the aforementioned gap in IR scholarship. In many ways, this gap stands as a paradox both to the reliance on the Westphalian model and the associated “methodological nationalism,” in that, if sovereignty supposedly supersedes size, why are the world’s smallest states so marginalized in IR and comparative politics scholarship? A closer look at migration among and within these smallest states reveals the tremendous risk of continuing that trend, and what can be achieved with a new, more inclusive approach.
Presenters
Nancy WrightAdjunct Faculty, Political Science, Pace University, New York City, New York, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2024 Special Focus—The World on the Move: Understanding Migration in a New Global Age
KEYWORDS
Migration, Small Sovereign States, International Relations Pedagogy, International Relations Theory
