HMS Astute
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The world's 15 most powerful countries in 2014
As geopolitical analysts, we are keenly aware of the power dynamic behind international relations. Certain countries have long been understood to sit above and beyond all others in terms of national attributes and capabilities, forming a kind of hierarchy of nations. The term 'great power' emerged in the early nineteenth century to account for the leading European countries; since then, a plethora of terms have been invented, such as 'major power', 'regional power', 'world power', 'global power', 'superpower' and even 'hyperpower'. At one and the same time, various research projects and academic institutions have sought to quantify the world's countries' capabilities, including the Correlates of War Project's Composite Index of National Capability, International Futures' National Power Index, the Foundation for National Security Research's National Power Index and the Social Sciences Centre's Comprehensive National Power, amongst several others.
Super Power (100%-70% of the strongest country's total power) – a country with systemic power within every continent, including a comprehensive global military footprint; a top-tier technological economy, massive diplomatic influence and enormous cultural pull;
Global Power (69%-40% of the strongest country's total power) – a country lacking the heft or comprehensive attributes of a superpower, but still with a wide international footprint and means to reach most geopolitical theatres, particularly the Middle East, South-East Asia, East Asia, Africa and South America;
Regional Power (39%-15% of the strongest country's total power) – a country lacking the comprehensive attributes of a superpower, or even the reach of a global power, but with a strong and highly concentrated regional footprint, perhaps extending to the nearest zones of adjacent continents;
Local Power (14% or less of the strongest country's total power) – a country with significant influence in its local vicinage, perhaps courted by superior powers due to its regional importance or reputation.
Read more: European Geostrategy's 'Audit of Major Powers': the world's fifteen most powerful countries in 2014 - European Geostrategy
Global Power (69%-40% of the strongest country's total power) – a country lacking the heft or comprehensive attributes of a superpower, but still with a wide international footprint and means to reach most geopolitical theatres, particularly the Middle East, South-East Asia, East Asia, Africa and South America;
Regional Power (39%-15% of the strongest country's total power) – a country lacking the comprehensive attributes of a superpower, or even the reach of a global power, but with a strong and highly concentrated regional footprint, perhaps extending to the nearest zones of adjacent continents;
Local Power (14% or less of the strongest country's total power) – a country with significant influence in its local vicinage, perhaps courted by superior powers due to its regional importance or reputation.
Read more: European Geostrategy's 'Audit of Major Powers': the world's fifteen most powerful countries in 2014 - European Geostrategy
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