The city‐island‐state, wounding cascade, and multi‐level vulnerability explored through the lens of Malta

In this paper, we introduce the concept of “city-island-state” into a discussion small highly urbanised islands. We place “city” at forefront our analysis by bringing together geographies and “state,” with wider factors that may cause both wounding city an increase in precariousness “island.” apply to advanced city-island-state Malta (Central Mediterranean), which is densely populated, island archipelago about 500,000 inhabitants operates as single urban core, suburbs, rural hinterland rapidly decreasing size. This frequently considered being “safe” from external geophysical, climatic, anthropogenic wounding, but, reality, Malta, city, island, independent nation-state, faced multiple internal pressures its vulnerability such externalities. Some these are socio-economic, but others environmental. argue potential for particularly marked it exacerbated contemporary globalised neoliberal world flows interconnectivities, represents multi-level cascade: wounds and, extension, state.