A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Rethinking interdependencies: Ideal-typical worldviews on small and medium powers’ economic security




AuthorsKauppila, Liisa; Sinkkonen, Elina; Söderström, Ines

PublisherSAGE Publications

Publication year2025

Journal: Cooperation and Conflict

Article number00108367251364178

ISSN0010-8367

eISSN1460-3691

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1177/00108367251364178

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1177/00108367251364178

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/500265235


Abstract

Asymmetric and systemic interdependencies are increasingly viewed as security risks that could materialise as harmful outcomes for small and medium powers. While great powers have an arsenal of resources to decrease interdependencies, for smaller powers size constitutes a core vulnerability and becomes a key variable in their recalculations of economic security. This article (1) identifies potential harmful outcomes brought on by the competences of great powers, and (2) constructs three ideal-typical worldviews on small and medium powers’ economic security. In particular, it argues that smaller powers can view security risks of foreign ownership, supply disruptions and critical high technology cut-offs either through competitive global market capitalism, integrationist multipolarism or protectionist small state realism: by prioritising cost-effectiveness, balancing between efficacy and risks of interdependence or actively reducing vulnerabilities. The data originate from a large-scale Finnish Delphi panel, during which stakeholders proposed means to avoid the materialising of threat scenarios presented as comic art. Although the results are not generalisable as such, the study offers an empirically rooted introduction to considerations and tensions that all non-great powers encounter when enhancing their economic security under the current circumstances. As such, the article opens the ground for theorising and formulating strategies on de-risking.


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Funding information in the publication
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article: This study was funded by the Research Council of Finland, grant number 338145.


Last updated on 2025-06-10 at 10:16