system that maximises influence through position rather than size. Using a network analysis approach, the study demonstrates that the multiplicity, density, and diversity of connections strengthen Singapore’s centrality, enabling faster access to partners, markets and the centres of decision- making, while its institutional efficiency and credibility reinforce its role as a trusted intermediary. The findings show that Singapore’s influence derives from its ability to design and manage overlapping networks—economic, institutional and strategic—supported by capable governance and adaptive learning mechanisms. The study concludes that smart power for small states is a function of advanced network design and institutional coherence, not material accumulation, offering a replicable analytical framework for understanding the influence of small but well-connected states in a complex international system. Keywords: small states, smart power, network governance, Singapore, foreign policy networks.
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