Abstract

Research on status-seeking in international politics offers valuable insights into why countries of various sizes may and sometimes do act in unexpected and apparently irrational ways. This article applies a status-seeking theoretical framework, that of Social Identity Theory, to explain a small, materially weak state’s unconventional foreign policy choices. Our case study focuses on Lithuania’s ambitious engagement in the EU’s Eastern Partnership programme, targeting Ukraine and Georgia. We find that a status-focused analysis helps to better comprehend several ‘unusual’ foreign policy initiatives launched by Lithuanian policymakers since the 2000s, the ultimate purpose of which, we argue, is the pursuit of higher status.

摘要

对国际政治中地位寻求的研究提供了宝贵的见解，了解为什么不同规模的国家可能有时确实会以出乎意料和明显不合理的方式行事。本文运用社会认同理论的地位寻求理论框架来解释一个小国、物质上薄弱的国家的非常规外交政策选择。我们的案例研究侧重于立陶宛雄心勃勃地参与欧盟东部伙伴关系计划，目标是乌克兰和格鲁吉亚。我们发现，以地位为中心的分析有助于更好地理解立陶宛决策者自 2000 年代以来发起的几项“不寻常的”外交政策举措，我们认为其最终目的是追求更高的地位。