Small Foreign Strategic Choice Characteristics Research

The external behaviors and foreign strategy-making characteristics of smallcountries are important topics in diplomatic strategy research. This article focused onthe theory of “Concentric-circle Model” which is a hypothesis established by theauthor. This model emphasizes on analyzing the external behaviors and foreignstrategy-making characteristics of small countries. Different from the former analysison national strategy, the Concentric-circle Model is a theoretic research whichcontains the international relations theories and diplomacy theories.The hypothesis is examined from two different perspectives: national elasticityand agenda coordination. National elasticity, as a historical and philosophicperspective, describes the unique and stable characteristics shown in the foreignrelations of a country. It is determined by the history of the establishment of a country,strategic culture and national identity. In this model, national elasticity is highlightedon the “shell” of the concentric-circle. It is categorized by Hard-shell countries,Soft-shell countries and Non-shell countries; each is exemplified by Vietnam,Cambodia and Philippines.The other perspective is agenda coordination which shows to what range acountry can get involved in the international interactions and cooperation. In thismodel, the high agenda coordination is expressed as “a large shell with a small core”,while the low agenda coordination is expressed as “a small shell with a large core”.On the one hand, a country with high agenda coordination will cooperate with othercountries in high political field, such as military, security and politics, as well as inlow political field, such as culture, economy and trade; on the other hand, a countrywith low agenda coordination will only cooperate in low political field. It is alsorespectively exemplified by Singapore and Myanmar.