"László Szöllősi-Cira has written a provocative and timely book. At a time when obsessions about great power conflict dominate International Relations scholarship, Szöllősi-Cira reminds us that smaller powers still have a (sometimes influential) role to play in international politics. Szöllősi-Cira skilfully examines the peculiarities and eccentricities of New Zealand{u2019}s foreign policymaking and shows how this relatively small and distant country has managed to remain not only independent but influential. Such insights help contextualize New Zealand{u2019}s current foreign policymaking in the face of growing Sino-American competition, making this book an urgent must-read. " {u2014}Nicholas Ross Smith, Assistant Professor, The University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China ?In New Zealand{u2019}s Global Responsibility, László Szöllősi-Cira makes the crucial but often overlooked point that New Zealand{u2019}s experience challenges the realist assumption that small states are destined to be marginal actors in international relations. Drawing on specific examples concerning the fourth Labour government{u2019}s non-nuclear stance and the embrace of trade liberalization in the mid-1980s, this book demonstrates that it is entirely possible for a relatively small state like New Zealand to become a norm setter and ideas entrepreneur in an increasingly interconnected world. This book should be read by both policy-makers and serious students of world affairs.? {u2014}Robert G. Patman, Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chair and Professor of International Relations, University of Otago, New Zealand New Zealand often plays leading roles in implementing progressive ideas. This book investigates what explanatory factors facilitated the country to become such a relevant normative actor. New Zealand{u2019}s case suggests that democratic institutions, skilled bureaucracy, and ambitious politicians play the crucial roles to create global influence. The case studies included in this book develop the argument that small states can better influence international politics by focusing on domestic issues. In contributing to discourses on New Zealand{u2019}s possible future role, the book is an invaluable resource to intellectuals, researchers, and students alike. László Szöllősi-Cira holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Otago. His academic interests include political theory and political economy.

lgrsnf/763.pdf

New Zealand's global responsibility : A small state's leading rôle in establishing progressive ideas

László Szöllősi-Cira; SpringerLink (Online service)

László Szőllősi-Cira

Szöllősi-Cira, László

Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd Fka Springer Science + Business Media Singapore Pte Ltd

Springer Nature, Singapore, 2022

Singapore, Singapore

2, 20220101

Cham, 2022

Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Introduction
1.1 The Curious Case of a Distant Country
1.2 The Relevant Theoretical Discourses
1.3 Contribution to Academic and Public Discourses
References
2 Conceptual Framework: Progressive Norm Dynamics in International Relations
2.1 Principles, Norms and the Concept of ‘Progressive’
2.2 The Role of Norms in International Relations
2.3 The Features of Non-coercive Norm Dynamics
2.4 How Norms Appear and Spread?
2.5 Small States and Norm Dynamics
2.6 Conclusion
References
3 New Zealand as a Global Policy Actor
3.1 The Elements of the State’s Foreign Policy Behaviour
3.2 International Factors Forming New Zealand’s Policies
3.2.1 New Zealand’s Perceived Size
3.2.2 Geopolitical Location
3.3 Domestic Factors
3.3.1 Culture
3.3.2 Governmental Institutions
3.3.3 Available Resources
3.4 Individual Factors: Politicians’ Ambitions and Characteristics
3.5 Conclusion
References
4 New Zealand’s Nuclear-Free Policy
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The Nuclear-Free Norm
4.3 The Ideology of the Nuclear-Free Policy: From Peace Movement to the Government
4.4 Extensive Efforts: The Evolution of the Nuclear-Free Policy
4.4.1 Before 1984: Increasing Public Support for the Policy
4.4.2 The Threshold Events Between 1984 and 1990
4.4.3 The Nuclear-Free Status in New Zealand’s Foreign Policy
4.5 Policy Consistency: Steady Disarmament Advocacy
4.6 Leadership and Norm Life Cycle: Awareness of the Nuclear Risks
4.7 Conclusion
References
5 New Zealand’s Role in Facilitating Trade Liberalisation
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Defining the Free-Trade Norm
5.3 New Zealand’s Ideology to Promote Free Trade
5.3.1 The Seeds of Multilateralism Between 1945 and 1984
5.3.2 Bipartisan Agreement on the Benefits of Free Trade (1980–2015)
5.3.3 The Redefinition of Trade After 2015
5.4 Mobilising Resources and Efforts to Create Free Trade Agreements
5.4.1 1945–1984: The Necessary Diversification of Markets
5.4.2 1984–2017: Trade Liberalisation as Political Strategy
5.4.3 After 2017: Inclusion of Social Goals in Trade Agreements
5.5 The Consistency of the Policies Regarding Free Trade
5.6 Leadership in Trade Liberalisation
5.7 Conclusion
References
6 New Zealand’s Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The Virus and the Blurred Politics Around It
6.3 An Emerging Norm and the New Zealand Approach in the Pandemic
6.4 Efforts
6.4.1 Health Aspects of the Response
6.4.2 Logistic Aspects
6.4.3 Economic Aspects
6.4.4 Leadership Aspects
6.4.5 Discussing the Successful Elimination of the Virus
6.5 Consistency
6.6 Leadership to Isolation?
6.7 Conclusion
References
7 Discussion: Theoretical Lessons and New Zealand’s Future Role
7.1 The Roots of New Zealand Becoming Norm Setter and Norm Entrepreneur
7.2 Theoretical Implications
7.2.1 Crucial Factors in Developing Progressive Policies
7.2.2 Independence or Entrapment Between Great Powers’ Interests
7.2.3 The International Influence of Small States: Norm Entrepreneurship or Leadership by Example?
7.3 The country’s Future Role: New Zealand’s Global Responsibility
7.3.1 Necessary Conditions and Constraints
7.3.2 The Renewal of the Welfare State
7.3.3 Settling Race Relations
References
8 Conclusion
References
Index

"László Szöllősi-Cira has written a provocative and timely book. At a time when obsessions about great power conflict dominate International Relations scholarship, Szöllősi-Cira reminds us that smaller powers still have a (sometimes influential) role to play in international politics. Szöllősi-Cira skilfully examines the peculiarities and eccentricities of New Zealand{u2019}s foreign policymaking and shows how this relatively small and distant country has managed to remain not only independent but influential. Such insights help contextualize New Zealand{u2019}s current foreign policymaking in the face of growing Sino-American competition, making this book an urgent must-read. " {u2014}Nicholas Ross Smith, Assistant Professor, The University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China ?In New Zealand{u2019}s Global Responsibility, László Szöllősi-Cira makes the crucial but often overlooked point that New Zealand{u2019}s experience challenges the realist assumption that small states are destined to be marginal actors in international relations. Drawing on specific examples concerning the fourth Labour government{u2019}s non-nuclear stance and the embrace of trade liberalization in the mid-1980s, this book demonstrates that it is entirely possible for a relatively small state like New Zealand to become a norm setter and ideas entrepreneur in an increasingly interconnected world. This book should be read by both policy-makers and serious students of world affairs.? {u2014}Robert G. Patman, Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chair and Professor of International Relations, University of Otago, New Zealand New Zealand often plays leading roles in implementing progressive ideas. This book investigates what explanatory factors facilitated the country to become such a relevant normative actor. New Zealand{u2019}s case suggests that democratic institutions, skilled bureaucracy, and ambitious politicians play the crucial roles to create global influence. The case studies included in this book develop the argument that small states can better influence international politics by focusing on domestic issues. In contributing to discourses on New Zealand{u2019}s possible future role, the book is an invaluable resource to intellectuals, researchers, and students alike. László Szöllősi-Cira holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Otago. His academic interests include political theory and political economy.

"László Szöllősi-Cira has written a provocative and timely book. At a time when obsessions about great power conflict dominate International Relations scholarship, Szöllősi-Cira reminds us that smaller powers still have a (sometimes influential) role to play in international politics. Szöllősi-Cira skilfully examines the peculiarities and eccentricities of New Zealand's foreign policymaking and shows how this relatively small and distant country has managed to remain not only independent but influential. Such insights help contextualize New Zealand's current foreign policymaking in the face of growing Sino-American competition, making this book an urgent must-read. " --Nicholas Ross Smith, Assistant Professor, The University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China "In New Zealand's Global Responsibility, László Szöllősi-Cira makes the crucial but often overlooked point that New Zealand's experience challenges the realist assumption that small states are destined to be marginal actors in international relations. Drawing on specific examples concerning the fourth Labour government's non-nuclear stance and the embrace of trade liberalization in the mid-1980s, this book demonstrates that it is entirely possible for a relatively small state like New Zealand to become a norm setter and ideas entrepreneur in an increasingly interconnected world. This book should be read by both policy-makers and serious students of world affairs." --Robert G. Patman, Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chair and Professor of International Relations, University of Otago, New Zealand New Zealand often plays leading roles in implementing progressive ideas. This book investigates what explanatory factors facilitated the country to become such a relevant normative actor. New Zealand's case suggests that democratic institutions, skilled bureaucracy, and ambitious politicians play the crucial roles to create global influence. The case studies included in this book develop the argument that small states can better influence international politics by focusing on domestic issues. In contributing to discourses on New Zealand's possible future role, the book is an invaluable resource to intellectuals, researchers, and students alike. László Szöllősi-Cira holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Otago. His academic interests include political theory and political economy. .

2022-04-08