BOOK REVIEW

''The Security of Small States in the Third World", ISBN 0 86784 161 3, published by The
Strategic and Defense Studies Center, Research School of Pacific Studies, The Australian
National University, Canberra, Australia by Talukeder Maniruzzaman.
Reviewed by: Govinda Prasad Ghimire, Ph.D. candidate 2020, Department of International
Relations and Diplomacy, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
About the Author: Dr. Talukdar Maniruzzaman, Professor of political science, University of
Dacca, Bangladesh, has published many articles in English, American, Canadian, and
Bangladesh journals and has contributed to several edited volumes. Before joining the
University of Dacca, Dr. Maniruzzaman had been a Professor and Chairman, Department of
Political Science, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. He was a Nuffield Fellow at the
University of London, 1978-1979, and a visiting- fellow for six months in the Strategic and
Defense Studies Centre, Australian National University in 1981.
An Overview: This book provides a systematic and comparative analysis of the security
problems of small states in the Third World. Eminent Professor Maniruzzaman argues that
states can enhance their security by improving the overall diplomatic talent of the nation and
the conscious adoption of theories and practices of international politics such as neutrality,
neutralization, non- alignment, and the balance of power. He argues that the prospect could be
much improved by better diplomacy and improved political and military strategy.
Contents: This book has 11 different sections to describe: I) Introduction II) Defining the
Small State III) what is Security? IV) Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, and Security of Small
States V) Neutrality, Neutralization, and Small State Security VI) the Non- Alignment
Movement and Small State Security VII) Balance of Power: Key to small state security? VIII)
Weakness and Cost of the Small State- Super/Great Power Alliance System IX) Great Powers'
Courtesy and Security of Rim States X) 'A Thousand Sources of Resistance': Defense
Strategy for a Small State, and XI) Conclusion. This book consists of 97 pages.
I. Introduction: This section focuses on the studies on national security that are mostly concerned
with the two superpowers and their allies in Eastern and Western Europe. Korean War, the
war in Vietnam and Israel, and the ongoing and never ending the war in Afghanistan is a few
examples of the direct influence the superpowers and their allies. This section focuses on how
the security problems of special categories of Third World States affect the central balance,
and how can small states avoid being the theatres for 'proxy wars' by the superpowers. This
section also highlights the consciousness of people of the Third World about their national
identities and nationalism. It also focuses on how the use of forces in Interstate relations
became counterproductive in West and American withdrawal from Vietnam. The introduction
section opines that since the small Third World states are likely to be in greater danger than
they were in the 1960s and 1970s, therefore, a study of the security of small states of the
developing areas is imperative.
II. Defining the Small State: This section attempts to define the small state in international
relations based on area, population, GNP, military budget, etc., the amount or value of
 interaction received by states from a given set of actors, the self-perceptions of leaders, and
the general public, and perceptions of external to the states. This section focuses on various
scholars arguments over the definition of small states, some argue on the aggregate variables
governmental structure, social and political organizations, or popular attitude define states;
some say amount and nature of interactions define states; other argues that defense or war
capability is the basis for the ranking of states. In this section the author has tried to define
states and their power based on the measurement of GNP and war capability quantitatively-
the formal distinction between great powers and small powers originally arose in response to
military necessities. This section tentatively defines small state-it is a relative term and a small
state is a state with a very low conventional war capability.
III. What is security? This section tries to define security from the superpower perspectives and
small powers perspectives. Latin American countries argued that national security was the
result of a total process of development. American perspectives over the security are that it
does not only depend on her superiority, armament (including strategic nuclear weapons) but
also on her ability to prevent communist (if not a leftist) take over in any area of the world.
The Soviet Union would consider Western superiority in conventional as well as in strategic
arms as threats to her security. In this section, the author argues that security means the
protection and preservation of the minimum core values of any nation: political independence
and territorial integrity.
IV. Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, and Security of Small States: This section provides the importance
of foreign policy and diplomatic prowess to safeguard the national identity, independence,
and territorial integrity of any nation-states. As Morgenthau prescribes security can be
achieved through power but small states can hardly exercise hard power to make their
influence in the international arena. Small states can exercise soft power and diplomatic
engagements to ensure security. The author gives the example of Cambodia (the smallest state
in the Indo- Chinese peninsula, suffered from 'an acute sense of national vulnerability' through
her history) that how Prince Norodom Sihanouk leadership, management, and execution of
foreign policy adopting the policy of neutralism between Vietnam (Indo-China) and the USA
(The West) rescued his tiny nation and defended the territorial integrity. King Mahendra of
Nepal,(landlocked and occupying a dangerous geopolitical position in between two giants,
India and China) during the 1950s faced trouble to safeguard the national security. Due to
King Mahendra's bold step, diplomatic strategy, and adroit maneuvering with the adoption of
non-alignment foreign policy and neutrality and equal friendship established his country's
independent role in the international arena. This section emphasizes new diplomacy' like
summit meetings, ministerial conferences, and hotlines', the quality of diplomatic skills of
government leaders, particularly the heads of government to ensure the security of small
states. High-quality diplomacy should be a constant phenomenon for small states' external
relations. This section talks about the core functions of diplomats – to collect detailed
information on political, military, economic, and social development to make the prediction
and behavior of the neighboring states and larger states and to carry out intensive research for
the future diplomatic and foreign policy mechanisms to make their national interests and
security intact.
V. Neutrality, Neutralization, and Small State Security: This section provides the concept of
Swiss-type neutrality to withstand superpowers pressures as the small Third World States take
time to develop traditions, institutions, and personnel for effective diplomacy as these states
cannot profit from the concepts, theories, and practices of international politics. Switzerland,
 with a military past and as an exporter of soldiers to other European states, had been
professing and scrupulously practicing armed neutrality and it's being formally recognized as
neutral in the 19th century. Switzerland had a stable society and her citizens' army had always
been determined to defend Swiss neutrality and independence. Another example is social
stability in Sweden, the Swedes' determination to protect their neutrality, their self-defense
capability; strategic advantages accruing to big powers from Swedish Neutrality have all
helped Sweden to avoid involvement in any military conflict since the beginning of the 19th
century. Without formal recognition, Swedish neutrality has for long been accepted by the
International community. This section also talks about the inability of Laos to endure
neutralization as Laos was the first Third World small state whose declaration of neutrality
was formally recognized by the Geneva Conference of July 1962. Unlike Switzerland and
Sweden, Laos did not have a stable and cohesive society strong enough to repulse any
intrusion into its territory and could not control civil war and withstand outside powers
coercion.
VI. The non- alignment movement and Small Sate Security: This section introduces the concept of
non- alignment policy and movement. Since the beginning of the cold war, the world was
divided into the blocs of two superpowers and military alliances formed accordingly, but few
nation-states adopted non- aligned policies which means the avoidance by a state of any
military pact with any of the power blocs. Nkrumah, one of the protagonists of the non-
alignment movement stated: positive neutralism and non- alignment did not mean keeping
aloof from burning international issues. Nkrumah (Ghana), Nehru (India), and Tito
(Yugoslavia) were the protagonists of non- alignment movement. The policy of non-
alignment is primarily designed to preserve and establish peace on a firm foundation. This
section focuses on the main tenet of the non-alignment that Military Alliances should be
broken and the world will be in a state of isolation and under such conditions, peaceful
coexistence will be more likely to prevail and global tensions will be resolved through
negotiation. Non- alignment movement will ensure self-respect and independence of Third
World states.
VII. Balance of Power: Key to Small State Security? This section provides the concept of best
arrangement for the security of small states and it would be a global collective security.
Though the UN system gives the confidence and sovereign equality to Third World states
there is no congruence between the formal voting strength of Third World states within the
UN and the power structure in its external international political environment. The balance of
power system in Europe (Quadruple Alliance in 1834, the Triple Alliance – Austria, Germany
and Italy, Triple Entente- France, Russia, and Great Britain) worked well to maintain peace in
Europe and to protect the European sovereign states system, the independence and territorial
integrity of the smaller states of Europe. This section suggests that the Third world countries
might profit from a deliberate borrowing of the European system to enhance their security.
This part provides the pattern and behavior of the threats that usually come from the
neighboring larger states- Pakistan versus India; South Korea versus North Korea and China;
Vietnam versus China; Kampuchea versus Vietnam and security of the Third World states
being suffered. A lack of balance between the two superpowers therefore proved detrimental
to the security of Third World States.
VIII. Weakness and Cost of the Small State – Super/Great Power Alliance System: This part of the
book provides the logic behind the general decline of Third World security was due to the
disequilibrium in the balance of power among the superpowers. There was always a risk that
 alliance provided no guarantee that the super/great power would honor its commitment to
defend its smaller allies. Sometimes superpowers are compelled to defend small states
strategically (overall climate of international politics determines) to avoid the defeat from the
rival power-China and Soviet in the Korean war, USA defended Israel, Soviet-backed Cuba.
Superpower motives sometimes failed to keep commitment towards Third World states –
Pakistan entered into bilateral and multilateral treaties with the USA, when Pakistan was
involved in a war with India in 1965, the USA instead of helping Pakistan, barred US military
aid to her. There is always a security risk with the alliance of small states to the big power as
big powers wages 'proxy wars' utilizing the territory of Third world states.
IX. Great Powers' Courtesy and security of Rim States: This section talks about the security
challenges of the rim states (small states bordering on a superpower/great power). There is a
possibility of the violence of the political independence of the small states by allied super/
great powers. Poland was bordered with three great powers of Europe- Russia, Prussia, and
Austria; Poland underwent three partitions in one century due to its geopolitical situation.
This section provides plenty of examples that great powers usually force their rim states to
enter into defense alliances with them and small states get exploited badly. Big powers so-
called courtesy' has strengthened the security dilemma of the rim states by expressing respect.
This part also talks about the modus Vivendi (informal and temporary political arrangement
between disputing parties) that rim states should follow to protect their independence and
territorial integrity -Romania, Burma, and Finland worked out a modus Vivendi with their
giant neighbors without sacrificing their political independence or autonomy in international
relations. How these rim states prevent themselves from being swallowed up by the big
neighbors.
X. 'A Thousand Sources of Resistance': Defense Strategy of Small States: This section of the book
provides the ideas that what strategy can a small state adopt to remain intact in an adversary
in an unequal fight- there are examples that big powers losing small wars. The strategy is
primarily political and secondarily military, its main weapon is motivation. It is manpower
intensive and fewer weapons intensive. It is the strategy of maximum effectiveness at
minimum costs. It is the strategy of waging small wars and a thousand resistances, the war
lingers on and the prospect of victory look remote for the invading country (powerful nation)
and the war will be finally abandoned- the Vietnamese (guerrilla) wins simply by staying
there and the USA withdrew the war. Citizen army (every male and female citizen is trained
in a defensive war) with patriotic feelings could be utilized as greater resistance to sustain the
war and save the country from the clutches of great powers. This section of the book focuses
on national spirit- it is the best way for the preparation of national resistance.
XI. Conclusion: The author argues that all requirements of the ideal government – virtue, self-
reliant, obedience to the law, dedication to the common good, loyalty, equality, and frugality
could be met best in the small, cohesive, and highly consensual city-states. Though military
capabilities between small states and large states are unmatched, some small states have
succeeded in ensuring their security. Diplomacy, foreign policy, and qualitative weapons,
neutrality, neutralization, and non-alignment and technology prowess have made small states
more resilient and enduring. Nevertheless, the security threat is still hovering over the small
states and Third World states.
Evaluation
Eminent professor and the author- Talukder Maniruzzan, of this book 'The security of Small
States in the Third World has been able to define the small states, their status, and their future
security strategy lucidly. He has used the data, facts, and figures so intelligently so that
readers could understand the concepts not only qualitatively but also quantitatively. He has
illustrated the issues with good supportive examples. However, the author lacks to define the
states and their size in a solid convincing way because he has given more emphasis on the
perception despite few material determinants to define the size of the states. While defining
the security he has focused on territorial security only forgetting the environmental security,
food security, and other forms of human security. The author has emphasized an alliance with
the neighboring and big power for the survival and future protection but has not given much
emphasis on self-reliant economic and military power for the self-help of Third World states
except the concept of national spirit' as a resistance to save the states.