Book Chapters by Uni-Cv Brito
China and Portuguese-Speaking Small Island States: From Sporadic Bilateral Exchanges to a Comprehensive Multilateral Platform, 2021
Small nations and territories face particular challenges in maintaining their international posit... more Small nations and territories face particular challenges in maintaining their international position, viability, and independence. Finding a comfortable niche within the existing system is often the major challenge confronting them. Most cannot afford substantial military forces of their own, leaving them at risk of domination or even annexation by larger neighbours. The possession of valuable economic resources, especially oil, minerals, or agricultural products, may make them the target of covetous external powers. Yet the absence of such tangible assets may mean survival as a self-supporting entity becomes extremely difficult. Small powers often fare best when offered opportunities to manoeuvre and balance among competing larger states which, for one reason or other, need or desire support, assistance, or resources from smaller territories. Arguably, since becoming independent and in some cases even before, the smaller Portuguese-speaking states showed themselves adept in steering an advantageous course among the demands, inducements, and pressures of larger international powers, more often than not strategic, geopolitical, and economic rivals, in ways that benefited themselves. One may further suggest that one factor in the ability of the small Portuguese-speaking territories to make the most of their own position was the cultural heritage instilled in them under Portuguese rule, a modus operandi that remained significant even following independence.
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Book Chapters by Uni-Cv Brito