The concept of a middle power in contemporary international relations theory: evolution of approaches

Abstract

The article examines how the concept of a “middle power” is understood in the field of international relations. The relevance of this topic stems from the fact that there is still no single agreed-upon definition of middle powers in the academic literature, nor clear criteria for identifying which states belong to this category. The study shows that interpretations of middle powers have evolved. Earlier studies usually defined states based on their position in the international hierarchy and the level of their material resources. Over time, however, researchers began to pay more attention to how states behave in foreign policy and what roles they play in global politics. While this broader perspective has expanded the analytical possibilities of the concept, it has also made the notion of a middle power more ambiguous. The article also explores how different theoretical traditions in international relations – realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical approaches – interpret the role and characteristics of middle powers in different ways. These differences arise from distinct views on the sources of international influence and the mechanisms through which states exercise foreign policy. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the development of an integrative analytical framework designed to overcome the paradigmatic fragmentation of approaches to middle power.