Middle Eastern Emerging Middle Powers : Niche Diplomacy in the 21st Century

This book examines how key Middle Eastern states use diplomacy in specialized ways to expand their influence in a changing global landscape.

This book examines how key Middle Eastern states use diplomacy in specialized ways to expand their influence in a changing global landscape. Focusing on the early twenty-first century, the book examines how 11 states - Egypt, Türkiye, UAE, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Israel - despite having limited military or economic power, have carved out distinct international roles through mediation, humanitarian aid, renewable energy, culture, and sports. It introduces the concept of ‘niche diplomacy’ to explain how states convert vulnerability into strategic advantage, enhancing visibility and legitimacy through focused expertise rather than force. Drawing on comparative case studies, the book presents a regional perspective on how diplomacy operates within authoritarian and hybrid regimes, offering insights that extend beyond the Middle East. The study bridges theory and practice, combining accessible analysis with original research on topical examples such as Qatar’s global mediation efforts, the UAE’s renewable energy leadership, and Türkiye’s humanitarian activism. By challenging traditional, Western-centered models of power, the book provides a fresh framework for understanding how non-hegemonic states shape international affairs in an increasingly fragmented and multipolar world. This book will be of much interest to students of foreign policy, Middle Eastern politics, global governance, diplomacy, and International Relations.