丁工：中等强国更需守护多边主义

Core Viewpoint - The world has entered a new era of great power competition filled with risks, and middle powers need to unite for survival, as stated by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Davos World Economic Forum [1] Group 1: Definition and Role of Middle Powers - Middle powers are defined as countries with political, economic, and military strength that positions them in the "middle tier" of the international system, having significant influence and status, but less than major powers [1] - Examples of middle powers include developed countries like Canada, Italy, South Korea, and Australia, as well as global South countries like Indonesia, Turkey, South Africa, and Egypt [1] - Middle powers can influence the shape and nature of the international system within a relatively limited scope, acting as the "neck" of the international system, which is crucial for maintaining it [1] Group 2: Strategies of Middle Powers - Middle powers, lacking the capacity for unilateral action, tend to rely on multilateral mechanisms and international cooperation to mitigate their limitations and protect their interests [2] - They enhance their influence and voice in rule-making through multilateral frameworks, which are foundational to their foreign policy [2] - The current international order's development is closely linked to the existence of middle powers, which increasingly play a significant role in international affairs [2] Group 3: Challenges and Opportunities - The unilateral and power-centric foreign policy of major powers, particularly the U.S., threatens the credibility of multilateral mechanisms, potentially diminishing the influence of middle powers [3] - Middle powers maintain a relatively neutral or flexible stance in international affairs, seeking a strategy of autonomous and balanced diplomacy, which allows them to avoid direct conflicts with major powers [3] - The challenges facing the current international order may present unique opportunities for middle powers to seek greater autonomy and influence [3] Group 4: Future Directions for Middle Powers - Middle powers are likely to adopt more autonomous foreign policies and leverage their leadership in specific "specialized" issues to establish functional coalitions and multilateral cooperation [4] - By leading in certain technical areas, middle powers aim to contribute to the maintenance of multilateralism and enhance the stability of the international system [4]