By Yerkin Tukumov
The international system is undergoing a profound transformation, marked by a shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world order. In this evolving landscape, middle powers are playing an increasingly significant role.
These nations, while lacking the overwhelming economic or military might of superpowers, have demonstrated the ability to mediate conflicts, foster regional stability, and lead in areas such as technology, economic development, and diplomacy.
There is potential for middle powers to form coalitions and partnerships that promote mutually beneficial cooperation, secure technological progress, and enhance cultural and humanitarian interactions. Specifically, middle powers can create long-term influence by developing cooperation tracks in policy research, health, education, and science.
Existing Groupings of Middle Powers
One of the most promising opportunities for middle powers lies in forming coalitions that promote shared interests. Unlike alliances that are primarily security-focused, coalitions of middle powers can be built around broader goals, such as economic development, technological innovation, and cultural exchange.
An example of such an economic coalition is the MIKTA group, which includes Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia. Formed in 2013, MIKTA was created to bring together middle powers from different regions to collaborate on topical issues like trade and development. While MIKTA remains relatively informal, it represents a model for how middle powers can band together to create collective influence.
Another area of potential cooperation for middle powers is in promoting mutually beneficial technological transfer. Rather than engaging in zero-sum competition, middle powers are more likely to pursue collaborative solutions that create win-win outcomes, ensuring all participants benefit from their international partnerships.
For example, consider the cooperation between South Korea and Vietnam. In the past decade, these two middle powers have developed close economic ties, with South Korean firms investing heavily in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector. Hyundai, for instance, has invested $415 million in Vietnam, employing 2,300 workers, with an estimated revenue of $2.6 billion last year. This relationship has been mutually beneficial, as Vietnam’s economy has grown rapidly, and South Korea has secured access to a stable and affordable manufacturing base.
Such cooperation is not limited to economic ventures. Another critical component of successful middle power coalitions is the promotion of national and cultural respect and legacy. Middle powers often possess rich cultural heritages that serve as soft power assets. By focusing on cultural diplomacy and fostering mutual respect for national identities, middle powers can enhance their international influence without relying on hard power.
One of the most successful and enduring examples of cooperation built on these principles is the Nordic Cooperation. The five Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—share a deep cultural and historical bond, yet each country maintains a distinct national identity. This balance between shared values and respect for national differences is central to the success of Nordic collaboration, particularly through the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers.
By fostering coalitions based on mutual respect and shared interests, middle powers can create sustainable partnerships that not only enhance their global influence but also promote stability and development. These alliances demonstrate that collaboration grounded in cultural respect and common goals can lead to long-term, positive outcomes for all involved.
Vectors for Joint Action
Middle powers have significant opportunities for collaboration in various domains that go beyond traditional forms of cooperation. By working together in fields such as policy research, health, education, science, and culture, middle powers can leverage their strengths to influence global outcomes.
One of the most critical areas where middle powers can collaborate is through the establishment of joint think tanks and policy research centers. In today’s interconnected world, policy solutions need to address complex, cross-border issues. For example, think tanks from member countries of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) could pool their intellectual resources to produce evidence-based policy recommendations. This collaboration could focus on issues often overlooked by major powers, such as sustainable development in emerging economies, managing regional conflicts, and fostering cooperation in climate adaptation. By creating a shared platform for research, these countries can promote policies that reflect the interests of middle-income nations, rather than aligning with the polarized agendas of superpowers.
Health is another domain where middle powers can play a transformative role by cooperating on the research, development, and distribution of medical innovations. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted inequalities in global health systems, particularly in the availability and distribution of vaccines and treatments.
During this period, several countries took decisive steps to address these gaps, including Kazakhstan, which developed its own COVID-19 vaccine, QazVac (QazCOVID-in), to contribute to global health efforts. Kazakhstan’s development of QazVac is a prime example of how middle powers can leverage their scientific capacity to support global health.
Middle powers can create partnerships focused on global health initiatives, particularly in areas of pandemic preparedness, vaccine equity, and addressing non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease, which disproportionately affect developing nations. For instance, India, as a major producer of generic drugs, could collaborate with other middle powers to ensure affordable access to life-saving medicines for low-income countries.
Digital education is another area where middle powers can take the lead. Countries like India and South Korea have made great strides in online education platforms, and they could partner with other middle powers to share best practices and technologies. By working together, they could expand access to quality education in regions where traditional schooling is difficult due to geographic, economic, or political barriers. Joint ventures in educational technology (edtech) would not only support education in low-income countries but also strengthen the global competitiveness of middle powers in this growing industry.
Kazakhstan, for example, has made efforts to expand digital education as part of its broader education reforms. The country has launched various initiatives to develop online education platforms and integrate digital technologies into the learning process. Through platforms like Bilimland, which provides digital resources for students and teachers, Kazakhstan has been working to modernize its education system and ensure that students across all regions, including rural areas, have access to quality learning materials. Additionally, Kazakhstan is prioritizing the development of digital skills among its population, aligning with the global trend of emphasizing information and communication technology (ICT) in education.
Joint educational programs can also be developed to foster intercultural understanding and collaboration between students from middle power nations. These exchange programs could be tailored to specific fields such as technology, international relations, or environmental science, providing a platform for students to collaborate on real-world issues.
Scientific research has the power to drive transformative change, and middle powers can create significant global impact through joint scientific initiatives. For example, middle powers could work together to establish regional research centers of excellence. These centers would focus on key global issues such as food security, water conservation, and biodiversity.
Kazakhstan has contributed to developing its scientific research capabilities, particularly in fields like environmental sustainability and renewable energy. The country has prioritized scientific innovation as a means to address both national and global challenges. For instance, initiatives by the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the National Academy of Sciences have contributed to research in areas such as water management and green technologies.
Such collaboration would not only generate valuable research but also encourage the sharing of resources, technology, and knowledge among countries that have historically been underrepresented in global scientific initiatives. Joint research on water management, agriculture, and renewable energy could address global challenges while simultaneously elevating the scientific status of these nations.
A Platform for Middle Power Collaboration
The upcoming Astana Think Tank International Forum, scheduled for October 16-17 in Astana, Kazakhstan, will provide a platform for international experts from middle powers to discuss pressing global issues.
This forum will focus on enhancing security, stability, and sustainable development through various lenses, addressing key challenges and opportunities for middle powers in 2024 and beyond.
The forum’s vision is to explore who middle powers are, what distinguishes them from major global players, and how they can contribute positively to international relations, diplomacy, and global stability.
The forum is designed to appeal to analysts, diplomats, academics, and other intellectuals interested in the current and future role of middle powers in the global order.
By addressing shared challenges and identifying areas of mutual interest, the forum aims to establish a framework for long-term cooperation among middle powers, enabling them to become more influential players in the global system.
Through this forum, middle powers will not only strengthen their bilateral relationships but also create multilateral networks that foster innovation, cultural exchange, and economic development.
As the world moves further into a multipolar era, the Astana Think Tank International Forum will serve as a crucial stepping stone in empowering middle powers to collectively shape the future of global governance.
In conclusion, as the global order continues to evolve towards multipolarity, the role of middle powers is becoming increasingly crucial. By forming coalitions, establishing joint research initiatives, and leveraging their unique strengths in areas like policy research, health, education, and science, middle powers can collectively address some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today.
Through continued partnership and shared commitment to global stability and development, middle powers can ensure that their voices are heard, their contributions recognized, and their influence on the global stage is both meaningful and enduring.
Author: Yerkin Tukumov – Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies.
(The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of World Geostrategic Insights).