Guest editorial : small states and the governance of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been a global problem, small states have faced specific challenges related to their size. The economies of small states tend to be particularly dependent on open borders and the free movement of people: either in the form of tourists or because of mobile workers. The crisis disrupted established patterns in both of these spheres. At the same time, small states also benefitted from advantages. Small size tends to be related to higher social cohesion, flexible crisis management and easier tracking of infection chains. Despite the diversity of small states, their situation in the ‘Corona crisis’ is expected to differ from that of larger states. The aim of the section is to explore the small state governance of COVID-19. The articles focus on the challenges and opportunities faced by small states. The authors raise questions about the sustainability of economies with strong reliance on certain sectors, and emphasize the importance of diversification and digitalisation.