THE ROLE OF SMALL STATES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AFTER THE BEGINNING OF UKRANIAN WAR IN 2022 – CASE STUDY OF NORTH MACEDONIA AND SERBIA

Abstract

The role of small states in international relations throughout history has been the subject
of theorists of the science of international relations, and even today there is a lively debate
about whether, in what way and to what extent small states contribute to international relations
in ongoing processes in international relations. The key question that dominates the realistic
theory of international relations is whether small states can have an independent foreign
policy at all, thus whether they can have independent foreign policy strategies or their role in
international relations is subordinated to the great powers. In this paper, on the example of the
Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia, we will try to analyze and explain
the role of small states in current international relations, and in the context of the Ukrainian
war. Thus, we will provide a new contribution to the science of international relations on
the foreign policy role and foreign policy activities of small states in international relations,
while, on a practical level, we will show that there are no unchangeable rules determining
foreign policy actions of small states, both in theory and practice. The positioning of North
Macedonia, as a permanent member state of NATO and Serbia, as a military neutral country,
but both politically committed to the European future, respectively membership in the EU,
will serve as an example in this paper that will provide a scientific explanation that not always
small countries make dependent foreign policy decisions, regardless of the fact of their foreign
policy orientation.