Sustainable Development in Middle Powers’ Governance Arrangements: The Cases of IBSA and MIKTA

Camila Saute  Torresini

doi:10.22151/politikon.50.3

Authors

Camila Saute Torresini Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.50.3

Keywords:

Global Governance, Middle Powers, IBSA, MIKTA, Sustainable Development

Abstract

Considering middle powers’ potential to address new demands worldwide and their propensity to contribute to new forms of institution-building in global governance, arrangements between them consist of interesting opportunities to promote sustainable development. However, some have shown to be more effective than others in this regard. When observing two of these partnerships’ outcomes between 2015 and 2018, India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) Trilateral Forum has demonstrated more effectiveness than Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia (MIKTA) New Innovative Partnership. To understand why, this study analyses specialized literature, with special attention to Koenig-Archibugi’s (2002) framework on global governance arrangements’ effectiveness. Arguing that middle power arrangements that address sustainable development are more effective when benefiting from greater functional specialization and that diversified power access also plays a role, this study raises awareness about middle powers’ relevance in addressing new global demands. The study points out the nascent research on these informal partnerships and the causal relations between these arrangements’ structures and effectiveness.

Author Biography

Camila Saute Torresini, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Camila Saute Torresini graduated in International Relations from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil, where she has been a research fellow in the group ‘Law, Globalization and Development’. She has published articles on South-South Cooperation and Brazilian Foreign Policy in Brazil and in Mexico, respectively. With a Master’s in International Development from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universitat de Barcelona and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona – Spain, and a Diploma in Circular Economy and Innovation by Universidad de Nebrija – Spain, she has extended her research to the area of Middle Powers and Sustainable Development. Her current position at Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamérica de Administración y Políticas Públicas has put her in contact with international cooperation in practice, where she has participated in the preparation of European Union-funded projects directly oriented to the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.