Acta Universitatis Danubius. Relationes Internationales, Vol 10, No 2 (2017)

Abstract

Changes in the global security environment have inevitably led to changes at the regional and national level. In the past, the impact of small countries on global security has been much inferior while today's influence is ever greater. While small countries do not have the capability to cope with new and ongoing threats, soft means and, in particular, diplomacy remain the main tool of these countries to avoid and reduce the risk of conflict. For Western Balkan countries, Euro-Atlantic integration is the only solution to avoid the uncertainty and potential conflicts in the region. Integration into international organizations of small and medium-sized countries besides that increases the security level for small also makes it possible to reduce the costs of defence and consequently has less impact on economy and finances. This analysis tends to examine and clarify the role of small countries in the national, regional and global security environment. Moreover, this analysis describes the cases of some small countries that have survived the challenges of history and have prospered alongside the large countries, precisely as a result of engaging the right means in the right time and in accordance with their internal capabilities. Building regional capacities and integrating them into global ones remains the best way for small countries to increase security and at the same time to increase their influence in global decision-making. While the diplomacy as an art of amicability is the safest mean for a small country to confront the external threats. As long as a small country is not able to stand against a conflict with its own forces, the only way to avoid or mitigate the risk of conflict is the diplomatic war.