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As a matter of fact I have recently started a new career as a visiting scholar at two universities in Iceland where one of my courses has to do with the question of the capacity of small states to take care of their vital interests, such as security and business interests, in the international system.
SMALL NATIONS IN THE ERA OF GLOBALIZATION HOW ARE THEY DOING?
What is the status of small nations in the era of globalization? How are they doing? What are their prospects? Are they doing better or worse than the so called major states? Are they doing better or worse than they did in the 20th C; in the bi-polar world of the cold war or in the inter- war period, under the shadow of the totalitarian menace of military conquest?
As a former Minister for Foreign Affairs and an ambassador of a small state, Iceland, I wish to use this opportunity to share with you my thoughts on this subject. As citizens of a small state, celebrating the 15th anniversary of your restored independence, this is hopefully a matter of mutual interest.