There are various arguments on the meaning of “Great Power” or “Small Power”. In general, these concepts seem to be made up of differences of power between nations. In the history of international politics there has been a clear distinction between groups of “Great Powers” and “Small States”. It seemed that only some “Great Powers” were entitled to be actors in international politics or only some “Great Powers” were participants in world politics.
This author traces historical changes in the relationships between “Great Powers” and “Small States” as a development of world economy and a development of science and' technology. The Enlightenmentists of the 18th century asserted that nations, small or large, should be equal and independent as individual human-beings were. And equality of state sovereignty has been recognized as one of the principles in modern international society.
However, in reality, history traces quite a different course. For instance, the Vienna Conference was a famous one which established discrimination between the Great powers and Small States. And furthermore, throughout the 19th century, five “Great Powers” strengthened their control in Europe. On the other hand, it was considered that small states should be interested only in lccal problems. As a result, small states such as the Balkan States were used as tools in the struggle between the great powers, and Scandinavian states themselves tried to escape into a sanctuary of “Small State Neutrality”. After WWI, the League of Nations, based on the principle of equality between Great Powers and Small States, was established. It was the first time that the basis for cooperation for international peace was established by both great powers and small states. However, it was doomed to failure when it was unable to take collective action against the aggression of Nazi Germany.
It was felt, after WW II, that the appearance of US and Sovìet as “superpowers” and the development of nuclear weapons would make small states powerless. But, on the contrary, while “super-powers” themselves were put in a nuclear stalemate, “Small States” have been gradually given the autonomous right to speak for international peace.

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