

Small states have historically been regarded as “rule-takers” in the international system, but in reality, small states have been active participants in the conception and maintenance of the international order – matters assumed to be reserved for great powers. To explore how small states historically participated in shaping the international order and what this history can teach us about the future, the Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS) of RSIS hosted a seminar entitled “Small States and the Evolving International Order” on 26 August 2024.
The seminar featured Assistant Professor Patrick Quinton-Brown of the Singapore Management University and Assistant Professor Dylan M.H. Loh of the Public Policy & Global Affairs of Nanyang Technological University, and was chaired by Dr Joel Ng, Research Fellow and Deputy Head of CMS at RSIS.
Asst Prof Quinton-Brown discussed how the non-aligned states in the Global South have grappled with defining their obligations under the principle of non-interventionism. He focused on the case of the Special Committee on Friendly Relations in the 1960s, which contemplated several draft definitions of non-intervention. He argued that the case reveals the struggle of anti-colonial interpretations vis-à-vis those of the great powers and how the concept of non-interventionism did not necessarily contravene the principle of internationalism.
Asst Prof Loh’s presentation centred on how Singapore views itself in the existing international order. He notes that in public pronouncements, Singapore presents itself as a strong adherent of the liberal international order but has increasingly expressed existential anxiety over the erosion of the existing rules-based order. He also observed that small states are trying to lead rulemaking processes for niche issues. In Singapore’s case, it has sought to take a leading role in shaping global AI governance.
The presentations were followed by a Q&A session, where the audience engaged with the panellists with questions such as how the meaning of non-interventionism evolved after the 1950’s and 60’s and the prospects of Singapore acting as a bridge between the East and West amidst US-China rivalry.