Great Power Competition in Small States: The Case of Singapore

As a smaller actor in world affairs, Singapore perhaps feels the ups and downs in major power relations more than most. Singapore historically benefitted from acting as a conduit for commercial interest among major powers, even before its establishment as a nation-state. However, this position was predicated on a degree of major power accommodation that accepted the prioritization of absolute gains. As US-PRC rivalries intensify, Washington and Beijing focus increasingly on relative gains, which reduces the range of options for Singapore to "not choose" and work with both major powers. Singapore must now navigate these more complicated new circumstances, but policy inertia and the costs of adjustment may limit its ability to undertake such shifts. Despite Singapore's uniqueness, these are considerations that may similarly affect other smaller states that previously gained from more stable major power ties.