Handbook of Governance in Small States is a timely and relevant addition to both academia andthe policy world. It successfully advances one’s understanding of the political economy ofdevelopment in small states, with pertinent references to their viability in the context ofclimate change. From a practical standpoint, it offers policy solutions that – while requiringfurther consultation for strategic and effective implementation – contain high-level policyrecommendations that can direct small states toward improving their governance performance.The book, therefore, is not only suitable for students and academics, but is a valuable tool forpolicy makers alike. Exoteric and insightful, the book will also connect with casual learnersinterested in issues affecting development in small states. The text comprises 26 chapters writtenby a group of scholars, researchers, and specialist practitioners; working in the fields of sociology,politics, economics, international political economy, development studies, environmentalsciences, and engineering. The contributors work in various capacities across governmentagencies, universities, and international finance institutions, in some cases, criss-crossingplatforms. They thus bring to the book a wealth of theoretical and practical knowledge inimportant, cross-cutting themes under social, economic, environmental, and political governance.The Handbook is divided neatly into four parts: Political Governance, EnvironmentalGovernance, Social Governance, and Economic Governance. Each section has between sixand eight chapters, outlining various topics under the respective themes. Generally, conceptsare properly defined, and in cases where they are not, authors outline areas for further workto improve conceptual clarity. This extends to areas of limitations of data. Methodologically,chapters display intellectual rigour, making use of quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methoddata gathering approaches. The chapters make judicious use of statistical tables whereapplicable and necessary, in order to enhance analytical clarity. The chapters make good useof multi-year data (as recent as 2019), as well as comparative analysis across small states, andbetween small states and large economies. Chapters are not overly long, yet comprehensiveand thorough with adequate references for further delving into each topic. - Courtney Lindsay, Independent Scholar"Further, the case studies from disparate geographic areas help to situate the challenges experienced by small island states in the Pacific in a global context. Overall, The Handbook of Governance in Small States is a useful primer in terms of how governance is related to the current state of the economy and environment, particularly climate change, in Pacific countries." - David Fazzino, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania