Strategic partnerships have been described as arrangements that allow states to increase their cooperation with one another across a comprehensive set of issues based on a low cost, low commitment understanding for interaction. Nation-states in Asia of all sizes, geographic configuration, and political regimes have engaged one another through strategic partnerships. How can scholars and practitioners better differentiate strategic partnerships from other types of agreements in international relations and decipher which states are using strategic partnerships successfully? By building and analyzing a database of Asian bilateral strategic partnerships established from 1996 through 2020, this dissertation describes strategic partnerships and their characteristics. It also charts their proliferation in international relations and considers key characteristics of an effective strategic partnership.The empirical case studies concentrate on how middle powers - countries that lack superior military, economic, population, or geographic size advantages to dominate their own regions or define the overall global balance of power - use strategic partnerships. Australia and South Korea, two recognized middle powers, serve as the main case studies. The dissertation illustrates how the Australia - Japan strategic partnership utilizes strong and committed leadership, an organizing structure for cooperation, and clear goals to help Australia achieve its foreign policy goals. A similar analysis highlights the South Korea - Vietnam strategic partnership. Four other less successful bilateral strategic partnerships that lack one or more of these characteristics are then considered. This dissertation advances a growing body of research on strategic partnerships by adding new insights into the implementation of strategic partnerships by middle powers. Relying on the database and empirical case studies, it compares and contrasts well-documented successful strategic partnerships with other cases. The dissertation also advances the idea that certain features - strong and committed leadership, an organizing authority for coordination of activities, and clear goals - are critical characteristics for an effective strategic partnership. Finally, the dissertation illustrates how middle powers can improve their bilateral strategic partnerships and suggests that despite the dominance of China and the United States in Asia, bilateral strategic partnerships can continue to provide a means for middle powers to successfully implement their security, economic, and geopolitical goals.