中型強權(Middle Powers，MPs)的外交政策逐漸引起關注，雖然，大國的地位在高階政治領域(high politics)仍是重要，但是隨著國際安全概念的擴大，中型強權已在不同的議題領域(issue-areas)，開始有出色的領導表現，甚至是擁有改變國際關係的驅動力量。 議題領域的概念，對中小型國家更具有實用價值。這些國家，為了不與大國競爭或重覆浪費資源，往往以創新的思維，針對大國所不願或甚少涉足的領域，配合自身優勢與特長，在這些利基領域(niche areas)加以厚植深耕，形成利基外交(niche diplomacy)。對中型強權而言，其柔性權力之產生，可以說源自於利基領域的正確選擇。 本論文以荷蘭作為中型強權的代表案例，分析自第二次大戰以來荷蘭的外交政策，探討問題分別是：荷蘭國家安全之維護，荷蘭在歐洲的區域整合傾向，以及荷蘭的利基外交。中型強權荷蘭，慣長利用各式各類的國際組織作為外交舞台，並且以多邊主義的方式，與擁有相似理念的國家共同合作，發揮柔性影響力，以提升荷蘭的國家地位與形象。荷蘭的中型強權外交，不落入大國外交的傳統窠臼，而是自創另一條路線，故相當值得探究。

雖然公共外交已行之有年，但隨著科技的革新和非國家行為者的崛起等國際社會的改變，公共外交的策略與手段勢必面對一番調整與改變。對於受制於傳統政治、地理位置、權力等中小型國家，這番外交的變革所帶來的並不僅僅是挑戰，更是機會與創新。這些國家藉由這些變革，發展出獨特的外交策略並拓展其在國際領域上的影響力。而藉由提供援助和救濟、致力於維護人類福祉的人道外交，是中小型國家採取的外交手段之一。為了有進一步的探討，本研究聚焦於挪威、土耳其、和台灣做為比較案例，並分析其人道外交背景、策略、和手段。 / Public diplomacy is not a new phenomenon in the history, yet with the changing features in the 21st century, such as the rise of the non-state actors and the technology advancement, the strategies and practices of public diplomacy have also been adjusted and modified. For small and middle size states that are constrained by power, politics, or geographic location, the changing environment has brought them both challenges and opportunities. They are able to develop diplomatic strategies beyond these hindrances through concentrating resources in specific areas that best able to increase the influence and visibility on the global stage. In this regard, humanitarian diplomacy is one of the niches that small and middle size states adopt to carry out their foreign policy goals, while generating awareness and providing assistance for areas suffering from severe humanitarian conditions and political conflicts. To further the study and to shed light on how small and middle size countries adopt humanitarian diplomacy as their diplomatic niches, the three cases, Norway, Turkey, and Taiwan, are selected and compared in terms of background, strategies, and practices. The comparison indicates that different countries develop their diplomatic strategies and practices based on state’s characteristics and existing resources. However, under the notion of public diplomacy, there are still several essential requirements needs to be examined in order to “make each punch above its weight.”