The Multipolar World and Small States: Emerging Perspectives in India-Kuwait Strategic Partnerships

Abstract In the twenty-first Century, small state partnerships are being re-aligned in the multipolar world. Addressing security concerns of small states, this paper reviews the prospects of strategic partnerships between small states and emerging powers. Contextualising from the historical relations between India and Kuwait, the paper analyses the dynamics of ‘soft power’ balancing within areas of mutual convergence. Further, the paper presents a future trajectory for small state partnerships with rising powers in an era of geo-economic interdependence.