Towards a Middle Power Theory in International Relations

Fels, Enrico

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-45689-8_4

Cited by 1 publication

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“…While such arguments emphasise material capability and hedging as a preferred modus operandi, nevertheless, such discourses fail to take into consideration the normative influences, cultural distinctiveness, and social practices influencing foreign policy behaviours echoing similar dilemmas faced by middle and small powers in Asia-Pacific (Friedberg 2018;Goh 2020). The region is witnessing emergent signs of limited cooperation and long-term rivalry between China and the US, thus generating increased uncertainty in domestic and international affairs (Fels 2017). Such dilemmas deepen competition in both military and non-military spheres, intensifying high and low politics and presenting the smaller and middle powers with opportunities but equal challenges to endure (Stanzel 2018).…”

Section: One Region Many Choicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

In the Era of Uncertainties - Middle Power Politics in a Multipolar World

Vijaya

2023

JJIA

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The Asia-Pacific region has transformed from a colonial past to an emerging economic power hub, thus bringing fluidity to its definition. The Asia Pacific region is a powerhouse of economic, technological, demographic, and social growth, drawing the attention of several scholars to the distinctive hotbed of great power competition and the emergence of a multipolar world order. The article studies the rise of middle powers by understanding the nature of their foreign policy behaviour by re-examining the regional security complexes of the Asia-Pacific region. In trying to bridge the imbalance of power and regionality, the author argues that the geopolitical flux in the security environment has severe implications for regional integration and cooperation. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region intend to constructively engage in widening their multi track diplomacy through multi-layered alignments with numerous formal and informal agencies and thus create multiple centres of power, influence, and order. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN-plus continue to present themselves as indispensable in order to promote converged strategic hedging, scilicet, pursuing bilateral, minilateral, and multilateral efforts on the chessboard of geostrategic competition of- Low Politics, including supply chains, trade production, cooperation on public health, and infrastructure development; and High Politics, implying defence partnerships and military modernisation agreements. Nonetheless, strategic hedging is not a preferred option for competing powers as it provides these middle power agencies (in bilateral, minilateral, and multilateral) with space, a platform, and channels for pragmatic, cooperative, yet cautious partnerships. However, the region has a myriad of options for tackling the complex nature of ASEAN consensus and self-help governance, thus overlooking its functions of regional security diplomacy and aptitudes of prioritising and advancing the member states internationally.

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Section: One Region Many Choicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

In the Era of Uncertainties - Middle Power Politics in a Multipolar World

Vijaya

2023

JJIA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Towards a Middle Power Theory in International Relations

Cited by 1 publication

References 44 publications

In the Era of Uncertainties - Middle Power Politics in a Multipolar World

In the Era of Uncertainties - Middle Power Politics in a Multipolar World

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