L’autonomie de la politique commerciale des petits États à l’époque moderne. Venise, la France et le commerce du sucre au xviiie siècle

This article examines the policy space of small states in the Early modern period. Through the case study of the sugar affair between the Republic of Venice and France (1751-1753), it assesses whether, in the 18th century, a small Mediterranean State could achieve (and, in this case, how) an autonomous commercial policy in the face of great power’s interests. The sugar affair between Venice and France allows to identify the measures that a small power could adopt to maintain its negotiating position in the absence of multilateral organizations that reduce the asymmetry vis-à-vis a major power. Despite this disproportion of means, this article suggests that, in the 18th century, weak political entities had some leverage to face the pressures of the major powers.