Pakistan’s Middle Power Diplomacy In a Multipolar World: Balancing Between China and the West

Abstract

The shift from a unipolar to multipolar world order has impacted the strategic thinking of states, especially middle powers. Pakistan in this regard is a complex yet insightful case study. Pakistan sits at the epicenter of several geopolitical contestations. It lies between China and Western interests which makes it an ideal candidate for proxy wars. This allows countries to project power without risking direct confrontation, which preserves international relations. Power projection while attempting to save face has been termed strategic hedging and Pakistan's evolving foreign policy exemplifies this through middle power diplomacy. This paper assesses her policies incorporating western ties, especially with the US and EU ,alongside growing Sino-Pak relations. It argues that she is trying to maintain balance between Beijing’s tightening grip and Western actors using multilateral platforms for global economic engagement as well as playing geopolitics through Pakistan’s geostrategic location. Through active participation in these forums, Pakistan has adopted a blend of alignment with de facto independence driven by realism towards global political trends. This paper follows Pakistan's diplomatic shifts from the Cold War to today using secondary sources. It employs middle power theory to explain reasons for Pakistan’s participation in initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its role in global organizations such as the UN and OIC, along with balancing its position during global conflicts. The research aims to address the gap in existing literature by analyzing Pakistan's foreign policy through a coherent theoretical lens. It claims that despite facing politically volatile and economically strained conditions, Pakistan is framing its policies more akin to those of middle powers dealing with intricate global dynamics.