The Identity Of The Middle Power Positioning And Diplomatic Strategy Research

As depicted in an abundant amount of international laws, states, regardless of the sizes, remainequal. However, within a certain international system, international hierarchy inevitably causes thepower distribution gap between states. Consequently, states with different power ability resort todiverse diplomacy. Although a growing body of international relations literature pays colossalattention to the relations between great powers, it is undeniable that the left-out states, i.e.non-great powers, account for the vast majority of international society. Therefore, studies on thenon-great powers, especially the middle powers, should not be neglected.After the Second World War, particularly the Cold War, middle powers begin to gain powerthrough economic build-up and their national identities start to change as well. If not dealt withproperly, this change would result into an identity crisis for middle powers and mislead them intoconducting erroneous diplomacy.To explore the diplomatic choices of an emerging middle power, this article employs Brazil as acase study. As the central standpoints in realist, institutionalist and constructivist theories, power,international institution and ideas are first used to analyze international hierarchy, followed by theintroduction of the concept of middle power and the characteristics of middle power diplomacy.This article then examines the foreign relations of Brazil in1970s and the beginning of21stcentury, and investigates the gains and costs of their diplomatic choices. Finally, the conclusion ofthis article argues that Brazil, as well as other middle powers, should adopt middle powerdiplomacy.