Malcolm Rivera
Middle powers are states that are not superpowers or great powers, but still exert influence and play a significant role in international relations. They are important in diplomacy because they act as stabilizers in the world system and promote multilateralism, cooperation, and peaceful conflict resolution. Middle powers are often seen as bridge-builders between larger powers, mediating conflicts and promoting cooperation on international issues. They are also able to leverage their resources and diplomatic skills to advance their national interests while contributing to global stability and prosperity. In addition, middle powers are often respected internationally for having renounced the nuclear arms race, which gives them significant credibility.
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What You'll Learn
- Middle powers are influential in arms control and nuclear non-proliferation
- They are important mediators and bridge-builders between larger powers
- Middle powers are often seen as moral actors and legitimate brokers
- They are key to driving the new multilateralism and promoting cooperation
- Middle powers can increase their influence through thematic diplomacy
Middle powers are influential in arms control and nuclear non-proliferation
Middle powers are countries with significant geopolitical influence, but they are not superpowers. They are often defined by their international behaviour, which includes a commitment to multilateralism, a tendency to embrace compromise, and a focus on being a "good international citizen". Middle powers are influential in arms control and nuclear non-proliferation due to their political and economic significance, international respect, and renunciation of the nuclear arms race, which gives them substantial political credibility.
The Middle Powers Initiative (MPI) works with middle power governments to encourage and educate nuclear-armed states to take steps to reduce nuclear dangers and work towards eliminating nuclear weapons. Middle powers are also influential in nuclear non-proliferation due to their ability to act as mediators and "go-betweens", and through international conflict management and resolution activities, such as UN peacekeeping. They are committed to maintaining the international order and peace, which includes preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968 is a key example of middle powers' influence in arms control and nuclear non-proliferation. The treaty was signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers, pledging their cooperation in preventing the spread of nuclear technology. Middle powers played a crucial role in negotiating and implementing this treaty, as they were seen as neutral and credible brokers between the two Cold War superpowers.
Additionally, middle powers have been influential in establishing and promoting other multilateral treaties related to arms control and nuclear non-proliferation, such as the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and the Arms Trade Treaty. These treaties aim to regulate, restrict, or eliminate certain weapons, including nuclear weapons, and promote international security and stability.
Middle powers have significant diplomatic and economic clout, which they can leverage to influence global politics and advance their national interests while contributing to global stability and prosperity. They often pursue a foreign policy focused on peacekeeping, human security, and international cooperation. As such, middle powers are an important factor in international relations and can play a pivotal role in arms control and nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
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They are important mediators and bridge-builders between larger powers
Middle powers are states that are not superpowers or great powers, but they exert influence and play a significant role in international relations. They are often respected internationally and have renounced the nuclear arms race, giving them significant credibility. Middle powers are important mediators and bridge-builders between larger powers, leveraging their diplomatic skills and resources to mediate conflicts and promote cooperation on international issues. They are also committed to multilateralism and global institutions, often allying with other middle powers to pursue their foreign policy objectives.
Middle powers are often seen as legitimate brokers and stabilizers in the world system, particularly in the creation and maintenance of world order. They are crucial in promoting international cooperation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, which contributes to global stability and prosperity. Middle powers are also important moral and intellectual leaders, driving the process of transnational institutional-building and pursuing a foreign policy agenda focused on issues such as human rights, the environment, and arms regulations.
An example of a middle power's mediation role is Morocco's advocacy on behalf of African migration issues. Through its migration diplomacy, Morocco positioned itself as a Euro-African mediator, targeting goals such as better management of migration flows, strengthening the rule of law, and compliance with international commitments. This demonstrates how middle powers can effectively endorse thematic diplomacy to serve the interests of a larger group of countries.
The collective strength of middle powers can also be significant. For instance, the 27 members of the EU, when acting in a uniform fashion, can collectively exert superpower-level influence. Middle powers are also increasingly aligning with other middle powers, both in the Global South and the West, to drive new multilateralism and strengthen international relations. These emerging alignments demonstrate the growing influence and importance of middle powers in global geopolitics.
Overall, middle powers play a vital and often overlooked role as mediators and bridge-builders between larger powers. Through their diplomatic capabilities, commitment to multilateralism, and ability to pursue shared interests, middle powers contribute significantly to global stability and the peaceful resolution of international conflicts.
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Middle powers are often seen as moral actors and legitimate brokers
Middle powers are countries that are not superpowers or great powers, but still exert influence and play a significant role in international relations. They are often politically and economically significant, internationally respected countries that have renounced the nuclear arms race, giving them significant credibility. Middle powers are often seen as moral actors and legitimate brokers due to their ability to pursue multilateral solutions to international problems, embrace compromise positions in international disputes, and promote good international citizenship.
Middle powers are seen as bridge-builders between larger powers, using their diplomatic skills to mediate conflicts and promote cooperation on international issues. They are committed to multilateralism through global institutions and alliances with other middle powers. They also have a high degree of civil society penetration in their country's foreign policy, reflecting and forming their national identity through novel foreign policies such as peacekeeping, human security, and support for international criminal justice. Middle powers are the driving force behind transnational institutional-building and play a crucial role in promoting global stability and prosperity.
The term "middle power" is imprecise and contested, and there is no universally agreed-upon definition. However, middle powers are often identified by their international behaviour, or "middle power diplomacy," which includes a commitment to multilateralism and a tendency to avoid direct confrontation with great powers. Middle powers seek to pursue their own role in specific issue areas, such as human rights, the environment, and arms regulations, and they are often respected for their ability to use soft power to attain their goals.
Examples of middle powers include Australia, Canada, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Norway, and India. These countries have significant leverage in geopolitics and are capable of creating new power dynamics due to their non-alignment with most great powers. Middle powers are an important and often overlooked factor in the complex web of international relations, and their collective strength can even rival that of superpowers when acting in a uniform fashion.
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They are key to driving the new multilateralism and promoting cooperation
Middle powers are key to driving the new multilateralism and promoting cooperation. They are states with global influence that are not superpowers or great powers, but still exert influence and play a significant role in international relations. These countries often possess strong economies, advanced technologies, and diplomatic influence, which gives them a voice in global affairs.
Middle powers are often seen as bridge-builders between larger powers, using their diplomatic skills to mediate conflicts and promote cooperation on international issues. They favour multilateral foreign policy and the formation of coalitions, acting as stabilizers in the world system. Middle powers are also important in the creation and maintenance of international institutions, which enhances their role in world order. Their reliance on diplomacy and specific conditions under which they pursue foreign policy make them effective in effecting change.
The collective strength of middle powers is significant, and their alignments can help drive new multilateralism. For example, the 27 members of the EU, if acting in a somewhat uniform fashion, can collectively wield superpower. Middle powers in the Global South, such as Brazil, India, Indonesia, and South Africa, have more power and agency in the 21st century than ever before. These countries are capable of creating new power dynamics due to their non-alignment with most great powers.
Thematic diplomacy is an effective tool for middle powers to increase their influence and promote shared interests with smaller states. For instance, Morocco has taken a leading advocacy role on behalf of African migration issues, positioning itself as a Euro-African mediator of migration governance. This type of "migration diplomacy" strengthens the rule of law and compliance with international commitments while serving the interests of a larger group of countries.
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Middle powers can increase their influence through thematic diplomacy
Middle powers are states that are not superpowers or great powers, but they still exert influence and play a significant role in international relations. They are often defined as countries with significant geopolitical leverage, but less powerful than the world's two superpowers, the United States and China. Middle powers are politically and economically significant, internationally respected, and have renounced the nuclear arms race, giving them substantial international credibility. They are often bridge-builders between larger powers, mediating conflicts and promoting cooperation on global issues.
Thematic diplomacy is an effective strategy for middle powers to increase their influence in the international arena. It allows them to strengthen their position in a multipolar world order, acting as a security layer to protect the interests of smaller states. Middle powers can use their diplomatic skills and resources to advance their national interests while contributing to global stability and prosperity. They can exercise international leadership by cooperating with other states or through international organizations, addressing global issues that affect both themselves and smaller states, and requiring coordinated multilateral responses.
Middle powers can endorse thematic diplomacy to serve the interests of a larger group of countries. For example, Morocco, a middle power, took a leading role during the Global Compact Initiative in Marrakech in 2018, where it submitted the African Agenda on Migration, which included the creation of the African Observatory for Migration and Development (OADM). This initiative, along with the agreement to host OADM headquarters in Rabat, facilitated coordination and the exchange of information between African countries, demonstrating the impact of middle powers in driving transnational institutional-building.
Through thematic diplomacy, middle powers can also address challenges in international affairs, particularly when they are involved in multilateral negotiations. They can contribute to global issues such as fighting climate change, promoting renewable energies, and managing sustainable debt. Middle powers are committed to multilateralism and often ally with other middle powers to pursue multilateral solutions to international problems. They embrace compromise positions in international disputes and promote good international citizenship in their diplomacy.
In summary, middle powers play a vital and growing role in international relations, and thematic diplomacy provides them with a tool to increase their influence. By addressing global challenges, serving as intermediaries, and promoting multilateralism, middle powers can effectively shape cooperation in a fragmenting world.
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Frequently asked questions
Middle power countries are politically and economically significant, internationally respected countries that have renounced the nuclear arms race. They are not superpowers or great powers, but they exert influence and play a significant role in international relations.
Middle power diplomacy is a style of diplomacy used by middle power countries. It is characterised by a reliance on diplomacy and multilateral foreign policy, favouring the formation of coalitions and the pursuit of compromise positions in international disputes. Middle powers are often seen as bridge-builders between larger powers and act as stabilisers in the world system.
Examples of middle power countries include Australia, Canada, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Norway, South Africa, Turkey, and India.
