RISE OF MIDDLE POWERS IN A MULTIPOLAR WORLD AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN

Abstract

Human societies exist in a constantly evolving and unpredictable world. From Hobbes’ Social Contract Theory to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, the transformation of social and political orders has remained inevitable. In the contemporary era, the international system is shifting away from a unipolar structure toward a more complex multipolar order. Since 2010, several emerging middle powers—such as Pakistan, India, Brazil, and Turkey—have strengthened their positions and expanded their influence in global politics. This study explores the role of middle powers in shaping global governance within a multipolar world and examines the implications for Pakistan. Adopting a qualitative approach, the research draws on secondary sources, including books, peer-reviewed journals, and research papers. A purposive sampling technique was employed to focus on literature addressing the rise of middle powers in military, economic, and political dimensions. Data analysis was conducted through Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) using NVivo 14, which generated three core themes: (1) the role of middle powers during the Cold War, (2) the multipolar world and the growing influence of middle powers, and (3) Pakistan’s position in a multipolar order. The study concludes that for Pakistan to maximize the opportunities of a multipolar system, comprehensive reforms are required, particularly in the areas of energy security, industrial development, and governance capacity.