Abstract:

A core problem of global climate governance is how to reconcile the interest demands of various international actors with international/domestic objectives. Current studies on leadership in international climate negotiations usually start from the structural realism theory, most of which focus on the established or emerging powers, and emphasize the role of large countries and major greenhouse gas emitters in leading the international climate governance process, while paying less attention to the internal logic of small countries to strengthen leadership through institutional designing, knowledge shaping and discourse construction. The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) firmly maintains the multilateral negotiating mechanism under the UNFCCC in its game with major country groups such as the EU, Umbrella Group, BASIC countries, Group of 77 and China. AOSIS promotes its own favorable agenda through diplomatic mediation and alliance strengthening, and constantly expands the moral right of discourse of Small Island States based on historical correction and moral concern. By leveraging the advantages of Small States in institution designing and knowledge shaping, AOSIS has achieved its unique “reverse leadership” in international climate negotiations.

Key words: Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Climate negotiations, Global governance, Reverse leadership of small states, International discourse power