IMPACT OF SMALL STATES ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: KYRGYZSTAN’S RELATIONS WITH GREAT POWERS

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the course of international relations and the factors affecting the use of power in Kyrgyzstan’s interactions with major powers, with particular emphasis on the power dynamics of small states in the field of international relations. Historically, power interactions between states have been an important factor in a field dominated by major powers, serving as a key component in shaping how states establish their positions on the global stage. In this context, small states have often been viewed as ineffective participants in the international arena and have largely been excluded from power dynamics. However, in contemporary conditions, small states have significant potential to assert their identities and prioritize their interests, thus becoming integrated into the power dynamics at play. Consequently, analyzing the power dynamics of Kyrgyzstan, located in the heart of Central Asia, in its interactions with major powers constitutes an important area of ​​research. This study investigates Kyrgyzstan’s ability to use force to achieve its goals and protect its interests in the context of its relations with major contemporary global powers such as Russia, China, and the United States. To this end, the four-part analysis will examine the concept of power in international relations in relation to small states, the power dynamics among small states within the international system, and provide a comprehensive examination of Kyrgyzstan in this context.