midpowers

Midpowers, or middle powers, are states that occupy an intermediate position in the international system. They have enough political and economic weight to influence regional affairs and participate in global governance, but they typically lack the overwhelming military power and unilateral influence characteristic of great powers.

Characteristics commonly attributed to midpowers include moderate military capabilities, robust economies, and strong diplomatic institutions. They tend to emphasize multilateral solutions, participate actively in international organizations, and prioritize norms, mediation, and coalition-building. Domestic consensus and a careful balance between national interests and international obligations are often important features of midpower diplomacy.

Roles and strategies used by midpowers frequently center on diplomacy and mediation. They act as brokers in regional disputes, advocate for a rules-based international order, and contribute to global public goods such as climate action, development aid, and peacekeeping. Rather than seeking universal dominance, midpowers often pursue issue-based leadership, form coalitions with other states and larger powers, and leverage international institutions to amplify their influence.

Examples commonly cited as midpowers include Canada, Australia, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, Finland, and Portugal. The label is not fixed, however, and midpower status can be fluid, varying with regional context, issue area, and shifts in the global balance of power.

Limitations and criticisms of the concept include its broad scope and the difficulty of comparing states on a single axis of power. Some argue that the category obscures important differences among states and overstates uniform strategies, as midpowers pursue diverse goals and employ different diplomatic repertoires depending on circumstances.