Abstract

What Hope for Small Powers?

The existence of small states becomes a powerful factor in the rivalries of the great powers and it follows that the sooner the small states disappear from the map the sooner a real security system can be established. The eternal problem of the small states is not economic or social stability but security. It is often difficult to say when, in modern European history, the tread toward large political units has prevailed over the opposite tread, for integrating and disintegrating forces have been continuously at work. The small powers of Europe, among which defeated Italy must now be included, have enough industrial and agricultural importance both as sources and markets to force the great powers, in their own interest, to put them on their feet again.