The Role of MIKTA in Global Governance: Assessments & Shortcomings

The importance of middle powers in global governance first began to take off in the 1990’s. Before this period the global economy could be conceived of as consisting of two spheres: the rich north, represented by the G7, and the poor south. The establishment of the G20 as a broader body incorporating middle powers can be seen as a concrete display of the change in the global economy’s center. Concurrently, the constellation known as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) grew in prominence on the world stage. In this sense, the middle powers which have been excluded from the G7 and BRICS have now become a second-tier group within the G20. Such circumstances have forced these middle powers to act in unison with the G20, the UN, and other international organizations and forums. In September of 2013, five of the G20’s middle powers declared their participation in a new formation termed MIKTA, an acronym of its member states, namely Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of South Korea, Turkey, and Australia. Largely considered to be an informal and low-profile forum, MIKTA primarily aims to serve and protect the interests of its five members in the global arena. This article examines the role of MIKTA in global governance as well as its future prospects and overall sustainability.