Small State Studies and History:Imperialism and Luxembourg’s foreign policy

What difference does small make? – this paper will weigh the possibilities and problems in applying methods and findings from the field of Small State Studies to two historiographical fields that in terms of size seemingly could not be further apart: Modern Western Imperialism and Luxembourg’s Foreign Policy towards a decolonising Africa. As historical figures, from Danish and Portuguese diplomats to Luxembourgish ministers, have put the size of their country at the forefront, the question remains if the rhetoric has had a meaningful impact on the policies applied. Were the colonial policies of states such as Belgium or the Netherlands different to France or Great Britain due to state size? Can the decisions taken by the Luxembourgish foreign ministry always be boiled down to their inherent smallness? The paper will touch on a variety of case studies, helping to enable a meaningful exchange between these different strands of research.

The lecture will take place in the Maison du Savoir, Room 4.510

Photo Credits: European politicians Emilio Colombo and Eugène Schaus with Togo’s trade minister Jean Agbemegnan and others at the signing of the Yaoundé Convention, July 20, 1963.
Link: https://www.opinionnigeria.com/independence-did-not-decolonise-african-countries-and-did-not-put-an-end-to-european-exploitation-by-patrick-gathara/