'nicro-States", the concept. of small States is more relative Ehan precise. Ehe onecharacteristic ahich all snall States have in comnon is a very small populaeion.Ibr exanPle, arbng the members of tbe United Natlons there are 34 Staies wilh a Popul.a t i.on of approxinately one rtillion or less. B,/ In aatdit.ion, anall Statesusually suffer from other disadvantages such as a snall territory, Limited naeuralreaourcea, geographical isolation and economic and social underdevelopnent. 92. These factors place a severe linitation on the capacity of snall states toorganize and guarantee their national security on their orrn. This basic defencelessnesa is what nakes small States especially vulnerable to externalattacks and inlervention. their snallnesg nakea then easy targeEs for aggression bV tsore poeerful SEateg or bands of rnercenaries and more vulnerable to concertedA/ 40/533 Engl lsh Page 30 external propaganda. Othe! forms of intervention include tbe use of exlernally sponsored insurgents. economic Pressure and desEabil ization. t'loreover, snall States that are strategicalty located in relation to the interests of the big poners or thoEe Ehat posseEs valuable natural restources face even rnore formidableproblens: t.hey are under greaE preasure to acconnodate lhe $ishes of the nore poeerful States. In addit.ion, eith the advent of the Convention on lhe lar of Ehe Sea, nany snall States eill experience difftculties in maintaining aalequate surveillance over lhelr exclusive econonic zone. 93. ft is neceasary Co eDphasize tbat $Dall States, no less lhan the other menbers of the inEernational conuunity. are fully entltled Eo uhe rigbEs of indePendence, sovereign equality and Eerritorial i.ntegrlty. This can be achieved by greater public awareness of the sPecial vulnerabilities of snall statea and concerted actlon by the ineernatlonal coonunity aE a shole. In this c€nnection, iE is clear that the best prospects for ensuring the national security of the snall scates lie
**Analysis**
The text discusses the challenges faced by small states, including their vulnerability to external attacks, intervention, and pressure from more powerful states. It highlights the limitations of their capacity to organize and guarantee national security, and the difficulties they face in maintaining adequate surveillance over their exclusive economic zone. The text does not specifically focus on economic development, natural resources, or environmental issues, but rather on the security and sovereignty of small states.

**Category**
International relations, Humanitarian aid and relief