National Power Assessment -- Resource Performance Military Capability

Author: Ashley Tellis, Jonas Bilstein, et al.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: This is a research report from the U.S. think tank RAND Corporation on national power. The report argues that the arrival of the post-industrial society has changed the traditional foundation of national power, and the methods for measuring the relative power of countries should be reassessed. To identify the true foundation of national power, it is not only necessary to conduct a detailed analysis of tangible military assets but also to carefully examine variables such as innovation capacity, the perfection of social systems, and the quality of the knowledge base. All these factors may be related to the broader capabilities that contribute to effective military power, a fundamental element of international politics. This book includes an introduction: Why study national power, a discussion on the concepts of "power" and "national power," a review of traditional methods for measuring national power, corrective perspectives on measuring national power, measuring national resources, measuring national performance, measuring military capabilities, and conclusions.