Security, Profit, or Shadow of the Past? Explaining the Alliance Strategies of Micro States.

Which factors determine the alliance strategies of micro states? Many micro states are either secluded island states with little need for traditional alliances or tied very closely politically, economically and culturally to a bigger neighbouring 'protector state'. Therefore, they have had little use for more traditional alliance arrangements. However, alliance patterns have changed as the significance of flexible ad hoc coalition building as a means to coordinate international interventions has increased. As a consequence, the strategic challenges and opportunities for micro states have been transformed. Focusing on the coalition on Operation Iraqi Freedom, this paper explores three hypotheses on micro states' choice to join international ad hoc coalitions: 1) participation provides increased security; 2) participation provides non-military, typically economic, gains; 3) participation reflects the lessons of past security challenges - and examines the explanatory power of each hypothesis by a comparative case study of 11 Pacific micro states. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]