Emerging Middle Powers' Balancing Diplomacy: Connotations, Motivations, and Implications

Abstract

With the rise of emerging middle powers during the past few years, such as Türkiye, Indonesia, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, whose significant influences have been expanding in the global landscape, while traditional middle powers like Canada and Australia have been notably silent on issues impacting global security and development. Therefore, not only has the division occurred within middle powers, but their unique diplomatic patterns and logics of external behaviors are also worthy of attention. This article argues that emerging middle powers are in a semi-peripheral position within the international economic structure, representing the common interests of developing countries and acting as leaders of the "Global South" and promoters of a more multipolar global order. During the transformation of international order, the rise of emerging middle powers and their balancing diplomacy pattern will further promote multipolarization.