The Informal Phase and Crisis Management, 2006–13

SMPs are willing to maximise their status in international institutions, but such efforts require a formalised setting. When negotiations are conducted on an informal level and are limited to the key players, the space for middle power diplomacy shrinks considerably. In contrast to major powers that often favour such forms of brinkmanship and great power politics, SMPs will be unable to resort to their preferred coalitionbuilding or openly display their status as good international citizens. As a result, they may adopt a less conciliatory stance or strive to bring negotiations back to a more open and multilateral process. While excessive informality will undermine middle power agency, a broader sense of crisis will propel SMPs to provide leadership in revitalising institutions that are deadlocked. During periods of crisis in the global economy, SMPs will take diplomatic initiatives to defend institutions and existing agendas and will attempt to initiate new approaches to building consensus. In this respect, SMPs may demonstrate a greater commitment to multilateralism compared to major powers that may seek alternative paths, such as regional and plurilateral deals, to promote their preferences. At critical moments, and when the legitimacy of key institutions is at stake, SMPs will seek to compromise and diffuse crises against the preferences of both major and smaller powers.