Middle Powers on the ‘Cyber’ Middle Path

The term ‘middle powers’ suffers from a common social science problem of definition, where the open-endedness of debates often leaves the terms with way too many perspectives. Unlike the definition for great powers or small states, where scholars somehow manage to find a middle ground, the literature around middle powers remains contested. Moreover, the contemporary understanding of middle powers is heavily Western-centric. This is followed by a constant debate between traditional and emerging middle powers. Amidst these confrontations, relying wholly on a single approach can be detrimental for the study as it forestalls the admission of such middle powers which do not align with the set criterion. Therefore, a holistic approach, with a variety of approaches that can be complementary to each other, brings us to an integrative definition.