ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines three ways of understanding middle powers in contemporary international politics: (i) as dependent middle powers, (ii) as regional middle powers and (iii) middle powers as global citizens. It recalls an important tradition in the conceptualising of middle powers that stretches back to ancient China. This tradition focuses on the capacity of middle powers to act as brokers in disputes between big powers while also defending the interests of smaller states. Dependent and regional middle powers rarely exercise influence in global politics. In effect they are faux middle powers. However, states in the third category of middle powers (e.g. Norway) achieve influence in global affairs by successfully advocating on issues like human rights or nuclear weapons non-proliferation. In doing so they mirror historical understandings of their relevance in regional and global affairs. It is time to bring them in from the theoretical cold in IR.
