The Influence of Small States on Superpowers

Jamaica and U.S. Foreign Policy

By (author) Richard L. Bernal

Publication date:

22 July 2015

Length of book:

456 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9781498508162

The conventional wisdom is that small developing countries exert limited—if any—influence on the foreign policy of superpowers, in particular the United States. This book challenges that premise based on the experience of the small developing country of Jamaica and its relations with the United States. It raises the question: if the foreign policy of the United States can be influenced by even a small developing country, should Washington be worried?

Chapter 1: Objective and Organization
Chapter 2: Small Sates in International Relations
Chapter 3: Jamaica-U.S. Relations
Chapter 4: How Foreign Governments Influence US Foreign Policy
Chapter 5: Foreign Aid and Debt Relief
Chapter 6: Counter Narcotics Cooperation
Chapter 7: Caribbean Basin Trade Legislation
Chapter 8: Conclusions and Lessons

Bernal . . . emphasizes the importance of doing one’s homework, building trust with important policy players, and identifying mutual interests. Interestingly, Bernal argues that information technology empowers small states by decreasing their transaction costs and increasing their capacity to mobilize constituencies.