This Master thesis takes its point of departure in the contemporary debate on the separation of the foreign policy strategies geopolitics and geoeconomics. Contrary to previous literature which analyzes geostrategies from the perspective of the operating state, this study offers a different perspective by shedding light on how the target (state) perceives and respond to a particular geostrategy. In doing so, it attempts to understand why a target treats a commercial project as geopolitics despite the project’s manifest geoeconomic character. By looking at Sweden’s geopolitical approach regarding the building of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the aim is to challenge a theoretical framework on geoeconomics and geopolitics which theorizes that certain geostrategies give rise to pre-determined behavioral paths. The method employed is a qualitative content analysis that uses open-coding to capture the essence of the Swedish parliament’s approach to the issue. Based on the analysis, there are signs of both geopolitical and geoeconomic effects with regards to the Swedish behavior. Territorial concerns regarding Slite port and increased energy dependence on Russia were in particular articulated throughout the debate as ways to block the pipeline. These frames were, however, to a large extent based on Russia’s previous aggressive behavior in Ukraine in 2014. This finding suggests that geostrategies cannot be fully understood without placing them in relation to crucial previous events. Ultimately, although an operation is geoeconomic by nature, the target may identify it as geopolitics if the operating state has displayed aggressive behavior in the past. Geopolitics and geoeconomics are as a result difficult to separate as distinct foreign policy strategies.

This diploma thesis deals with the issue of small states in the context of the European Union. It principally focuses on strategies of small states which help them to pursue their national interests in the European Union. Austria has been chosen as a case for the practical purposes of this diploma thesis. The theoretical part introduces the concept of small state in general, characterizes this specific term in the structures of the European Union and points out to the weaknesses of small countries, which may reduce their foreign-policy activism. Subsequently, the text analyses the strategies of small states which are used for the promotion of national interests in the European Union, or more precisely in the Council of the European Union. A practical section of the thesis deals with Austrian foreign policy engagement in three key political issues of the Alpine republic. The analysis of the Austrian initiatives during the years 1995-2015 has identified the strategies which Austria used to pursue its national positions in the European Union.

Small states have limited possibilities in promoting their own interests internationally due to their limited resources. They therefore use certain strategies to help them achieve their foreign policy objectives. This thesis deals with cooperative strategies in cultural diplomacy, as it often becomes a tool of small states for enhancing its visibility. But even in this environment, they face competition from stronger, larger states. Do small states use cooperative strategies in cultural diplomacy? And if so, how? The issue is examined in more detail on the case of the Czech Republic's participation in the association of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes of Culture), which represents a platform for cooperation of cultural diplomacy actors from the EU Member States. The Czech Republic is represented in the structures of EUNIC by the Czech Centers. The research of this thesis focuses specifically on the opportunities to strengthen the influence of small states in the international field, which EUNIC offers to the members. It focuses also on what motivations and risks are associated with cooperation. Through the methods of interviews, content analysis and quantitative data analysis the thesis describes activity of the Czech Republic as a representative of small state in the EUNIC network in...