Essay Sample on Middle Powers: A Strategic Alternative to Superpowers

Introduction

Middle powers are different because of their reliance on diplomacy and the conditions by which they pursue foreign policies. They favor multilateral policy and the formation of coalitions but not unilateral decisions in foreign policy. The middle powers follow limited foreign policy goals because their power capabilities are lower than those of the superpowers. They do not change the status quo in international politics. During the Cold War, the idea of the middle powers became stronger as an analytical tool in international relations as a consequence of balancing power between the Soviet Union and the United States (Rubin, 2013). States which did not have the capability of the superpower but had more impacts in world politics such as Netherlands, Sweden, and Canada were grouped to form the middle powers. The role played by the middle power as the legitimate brokers are evident in the international theory. Middle powers are fundamental in the creation of the world order, and they favor the formation of international institutions. For that reason, they act as stabilizers in the international system.

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The conventional intervention-relation theory stipulates that the hegemonic powers are responsible for the formation of international institutions and not the middle powers, while their survival and maintenance depend on the combination of interests of other groups like the middle powers. The middle powers address issues such as international economic orders, nonproliferation, debt relief, and the banning of mines. The middle can then set and influence international agenda, build grand coalitions, and challenge the great power in those issues(Handel, 2016). The roles played by the middle powers were as a result of their perceptions of their concerns on issues of human security. They can successfully transform the international system because of their diplomatic capability and the ability to project credible position than enable them to behave moral and intellectual leaders (Rubin, 2013). More importantly, the middle powers are also regional player, even though the ones that can influence the world politics are liberal democratic states.

The war started during the Soviet-Turkish relations, and up to 1930s, the relations of Russia and Turkey were still warm and friendly. The two states had promised to cooperate in international relations. The Soviets, Germany, Turkey, among others, were to determine to handle the straits of the Turkish bath in military and regulatory directions. The Soviet Union wanted the Turkish-USSR border to be normalized to benefit themselves, and the deputy premier Lavrenty claim that Turkish territory to Georgian was taken by the Turkish during the period of Ottoman (Rubin, 2013). If this theory were to be agreed by the people of Turkey, the Soviet influence over the Middle East and the black sea would escalate while decreasing the influence of the British Empire. The Middle power as believed to be diplomatic and consisting of liberal states, intervened in the war in Turkey, creating peace through the settling of disputes in the international system. Since the middle power was not as strong as the superpower, it had to intervene through diplomacy and liberalism. The presented a note to the foreign ministry of Turkey expressing the way Turkey handled the straits did not present the security motive of Black sea nations (Rubin, 2013). This attracted attention to the event where Italian and the German war had passed through a similar event without experiencing conflict. The fundamental interest of the Soviet Union was to control Turkey.

Middle powers refer to nations that are in the middle position of the international power stratification. They are even positioned just below the great powers, and they are often instrumental in shaping international development as their superior counterparts that are superpower states (Rubin, 2013). The categorization of superpower is often premised on military capability, economic power, and the state's geostrategic position in the international spectrum. It should be noted that during the cold war, the idea of middle power was used in evaluating the primary role of states that have had no superpower but wielded considerable influence on matters about geopolitics (Rubin, 2013). It is instructive to note that middle powers were more inclined towards multilateralism and were reliant on diplomacy so that they could achieve their foreign objectives. The rise of other states during the post-war period brought about systemic changes as well as the international economic dynamics.

Moreover, there have been emerging middle powers that have brought inherent changes in the social, economic, and political behaviors across the globe. The show of might through the display of military power, political ideologies, and economic strength often assists the middle powers in establishing and defining their security objectives and agenda. Additionally, there has been an inherent mismatch in the individual images of the state and their actual power and influence. The middle powers roles are often dictated by their relationship with other countries, which enable them to build a strong foundation of social, economic, and political wherewithal that help in shaping the international policies. Moreover, experience has shown that the middle powers are often closer to other countries compared to superpowers that always force their policies, which are laced with self-interest objectives. Notably, the middle powers played a critical role during the post-Cold War period where many countries viewed each other as enemies given the deep-rooted distrust that characterized the period of the Cold War.

Turkey found itself under military regime led by General of the Armed forces in 1980. The parliament was dissolved, and political parties closed down as the influential political leaders get arrested. The nation was in trouble with the Kurdish separation uprisings. The Iranian Islamic revolution, the war between Iran and Iraq and the Soviet inversion destabilized the cohesion of Turkish society. The military adopted the Turkish-Islamic Doctrine as the state methodology to isolate the separation criterion. Islam was used by the military as a measure of social control. The slogan adopted by the government was the family, mosque, and military barrack (Kuniholm, 2014). The military excluded from political events the fraternity of the former political leader. The parliament of European described the Turkish regime as a bloody reign of terror. Economic stagnation, international isolation, the Kurdish issue, crisis of civil society, and the EEC pressure gave impetus to the Ozal government to accelerate economic and political liberal reforms (Kuniholm, 2014). According to Ozal, the end of Cold War put Turkish in a great dilemma about the strategic functions for the NATO that is the best solution to go about the hurdle that would come by the active political role of Ankara with multidimensional strategy from central Asia. He suggested that Turkey should bear the role of big brother.

Conclusion

Several international theories have been used to address international relations such as liberalism, constructivism, among others. Different unions play an essential role when it comes to international relations. For instance, the superpower nations, the Soviet Union, and the Middle powers play essential roles in the Cold War with the liberal Middle power acting with diplomacy in world politics. However, the superpower being superior to the Middle powers, it was possible for the Middle powers to change international politics through liberalism and diplomacy.

References

Handel, M. I. (2016). Weak states in the international system. Routledge.

Kuniholm, B. R. (2014). The origins of the Cold War in the Near East: Great power conflict and diplomacy in Iran, Turkey, and Greece (Vol. 732). Princeton University Press.

Rubin, B. (2013). The Great Powers in the Middle East 1941-1947: The Road to the Cold War. Routledge.