The Rise of Middle Powers: Multipolar Dynamics and the Rebalancing of Global Leadership

The global order is shifting from a world dominated by a single superpower to a multipolar system with many centers of influence. In this changing landscape, middle powers such as India, Brazil, Turkey, South Korea, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia are emerging as key players shaping diplomacy, trade, and climate policy.

These countries may not have the military power of superpowers, but they are using diplomacy, coalition-building, and innovation to influence global outcomes. From India leading the Global South, to Brazil’s climate diplomacy, and Turkey’s balancing act between NATO and Russia, middle powers are showing that leadership today is about partnership, not dominance.

In her commentary, BIPSS Research Intern Tiva Tasha explores how middle powers are reshaping global leadership by promoting dialogue, stability, and shared responsibility. She argues that their rise reflects a more balanced and cooperative world, one where collaboration across nations, rather than competition, defines the future of international relations.