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The World Power Index

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National Power and International Geostructure

Abstract

The concept of national power has long been central to International Relations, but its quantification remains a challenge. This chapter presents the World Power Index (WPI), designed to address this gap. Beginning with an overview of previous power measurement efforts, the chapter empirically selects variables and details the methodology behind the construction of the WPI. The index integrates material, semimaterial, and immaterial dimensions of power, offering a comprehensive understanding of the state's capabilities. The WPI's approach reflects the importance of these dimensions, providing a measure of power that transcends previous approaches. Furthermore, by considering maximum and minimum values, the WPI allows the identification of ranges of states at a global scale. Through its trans-structural approach, the WPI enriches the field of International Relations by offering a comprehensive tool to understand both national-international power dynamics and the international geostructure.

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Correspondence to Daniel Morales Ruvalcaba .

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Morales Ruvalcaba, D. (2024). The World Power Index. In: Morales Ruvalcaba, D., Rocha Valencia, A. (eds) National Power and International Geostructure. Contributions to International Relations. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-1180-2_3

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