Description
As multipolarity deepens, traditional IR frameworks centred on structural constraints prove inadequate. This study demonstrates why the discipline must develop more sophisticated analytical tools that account for domestic-international linkages and small state agency to remain relevant in understanding 21st-century power politics. This paper asks “How do domestic political imperatives influence small state foreign policy responses to major power competition, and what explains variation in these responses under constant structural pressures?” This study examines Sri Lanka and the Maldives amidst the India-China competition in South Asia. The article posits that political survival and economic development as key factors that influence their foreign policy outlook. The paper argues that while the intensifying India-China competition has expanded the external opportunity structure facing South Asia, political elites in Sri Lanka and the Maldives engage with these competing powers primarily as instruments to advance domestic political survival and economic development goals, rather than adapting to structural pressures alone. Understanding these nuances is crucial academic rigour and for policy relevance as the international system continues its transformation. The study highlights future challenges that could arise with increasing major power rivalry and contributes to reimagining how we understand state responses in an increasingly multipolar world.
