Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

1-2003

Abstract

This article seeks to develop a distinction between emerging and traditional middle powers as a means to giving the concept of a middle power greater analytical clarity. All middle powers display foreign policy behaviour that stabilises and legitimises the global order, typically through multilateral and cooperative initiatives. However, emerging and traditional middle powers can be distinguished in terms of their mutually-influencing constitutive and behavioural differences. Constitutively, traditional middle powers are wealthy, stable, egalitarian, social democratic and not regionally influential. Behaviourally, they exhibit a weak and ambivalent regional orientation, constructing identities distinct from powerful states in their regions and offer appeasing concessions to pressures for global reform. Emerging middle powers by contrast are semi-peripheral, materially inegalitarian and recently democratised states that demonstrate much regional influence and self-association. Behaviourally, they opt for reformist and not radical global change, exhibit a strong regional orientation favouring regional integration but seek also to construct identities distinct from those of the weak states in their region.

Discipline

Political Science

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Politikon: South African Journal of Political Studies

Volume

30

Issue

1

First Page

165

Last Page

181

ISSN

0258-9346

Identifier

10.1080/0258934032000147282

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

Copyright Owner and License

Author

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/0258934032000147282

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