| Abstract: | 中小型國家由於先天條件限制，很容易受到國際環境變化的影響。但為了求取生存發展，小國必須尋求外交因應策略，以維護國家獨立自主，或能進一步發揮國際影響力。本研究目的主要是探討當前全球化與區域化的國際發展環境，如何影響歐洲中小型國家外交政策，以及該些國家如何經由外交政策實行，追求國家獨立和國際影響力。本研究實例以歐洲中小型國家為對象，選擇歐洲國家的原因有二。其一、歐洲經歷全球化和區域化的時間較長，有較多經驗可作為研討素材；其二、歐洲國家間的差異性較小，概屬於民主政體、自由經濟、和社會多元開放國家，透過對歐洲中小型國家的研究，較能凸顯國家大小「變數」，是否在國家對外政策與行為，產生不同影響作用。本研究實例包括七個歐洲中小型國家，它們是西歐的愛爾蘭和荷蘭、中歐的瑞士和奧地利、以及北歐的瑞典、芬蘭和丹麥。每個研究實例將依照外交環境背景、國際環境與外交決策、外交政策與因應策略、和外交政策執行成效來進行探討分析。最後根據個案研究的結果加以整合，試從中發掘共同外交經驗，建立中小型國家外交發展經驗模式。
Due to the limited size and resources, small and medium-sized states are easily affected by the change of international environment. Nevertheless, for the purpose of survival and development, small states are required to develop their diplomatic strategies to cope with the international environmental challenge and in pursuit of national autonomy and international influence. The proposed research project is aimed to explore how globalization and regional integration affect foreign policies of European small states, and how those states deal with the environmental change by developing their new policies and strategies and how successful they are. The research will include European small states as the case studies. There are two main reasons for that proposal: first, European states have experienced longer period of globalization and regional integration than the other states, and, second, it’s more possible to perceive or identify the impact of international environment upon foreign policies of European small states since they share with the same political democracy, free market economy and plural social system. Seven small and medium-sized states will be included; they are Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. Each case study will proceed according to the following steps- foreign policy background, international environment changes and its impact, domestic foreign policy-making, and new policy implementation. Finally, the seven case studies will be compared and integrated into a foreign policy model of small states in international relations in accordance with their responses, strategies, roles, and capabilities to deal with the international changes. |
