Middle power diplomacy edged closer towards center stage for world geopolitics in 2023. On global issues, like the war raging in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a still recovering global economy, and the rise of the global south, middle powers carefully hedged between great powers that need their support and expanded their influence on the global stage.

After examining the positions of national governments on critical issues, their willingness to engage others in difficult conditions, and the degree of leadership they show in regional and global affairs, we selected Indonesia, India, Saudi Arabia and Brazil as examples of these middle powers that have played proactive roles in 2023.

To discuss the impact of these middle powers, host Liu Kun is joined by Zha Daojiong, Professor of International Political Economy at Peking University; Rick Dunham, Co-director, Global Business Journalism Program, Tsinghua University; Zhang Baohui, Professor at Lingnan University, Hong Kong.