The Rise of Authoritarian Middle-Powers and What It Means for World Politics (Elements in International Relations)

Desrosiers, Marie-Eve/ Cheeseman, Nic

Cambridge University Press（2026/01発売）

• 製本 Hardcover:ハードカバー版
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9781009705233

Full Description

In recent years a group of influential authoritarian states has emerged that fall between the ranks of great powers and small states. These authoritarian middle-powers - such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates - exert considerable influence, particularly in their region. Yet this development has been overlooked in favor of a focus on superpowers, especially China and Russia. We therefore lack a framework for understanding their behavior and impact. This Element offers the first comprehensive analysis of how non-democratic middle-powers engage abroad. Drawing on case studies of states and regions, it shows how the combination of authoritarian politics and mid-level status leads to distinctive foreign policies. In particular, these approaches erode global democratic norms and institutions through a combination of hard power tempered by hedging and legitimation strategies. In this way, authoritarian middle-powers are helping to unravel the liberal rules-based order. This title is available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Contents

Introduction; 1. Middle-powers: why do we need a revised theory?; 2. Multilateralism and international relations-building; 3. Power projection and foreign policy; 4. Nation-branding and the ideas and ideologies used to foster legitimacy; Conclusion: toward a new research agenda on authoritarian middle-powers; List of abbreviations; References.