Measuring Power in International Relations (Advanced methodology course – practice-related methods)

E2025

Global and Development Studies / International Politics and Governance / Public Administration / Law and Public Policy

Course

English

Read about the Master Programme and find the Study Regulations at ruc.dk

You register for activities through stads selvbetjening during the announced registration period, which you can see on the Study administration homepage.

When registering for courses, please be aware of the potential conflicts and overlaps between course and exam time and dates. The planning of course activities at Roskilde University is based on the recommended study programmes, which should not overlap. However, if you choose optional courses and/or study plans that goes beyond the recommended study programmes, an overlap of lectures or exam dates may occur depending on which courses you choose.

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Michael Friederich Kluth (kluth@ruc.dk)

Laust Schouenborg (lausts@ruc.dk)

ISE Registration & Exams (ise-exams@ruc.dk)

U60909

A practice-oriented methodology course aims to equip students to competently apply a given technique or tool that is frequently used in practice.

The course equips students to argue for the applicability and relevance of the technique or tool to the problem, and to apply the technique or tool in work situations.

Can we measure power in international politics? Proponents of constructivism dismiss the idea while scholars inclined towards liberalism suggest measure must be relational and thus methodologically challenging. Proponents of realism by contrast put forth a set of fairly simple proxies which they claim enable us to adequately gauge the distribution of power among states. Morgenthau devoted considerable attention to the ‘Elements of National Power’ and it has remained a major preoccupation for international politics scholars. In the course, we briefly spell out the pointers offered by Morgenthau, Waltz and other for grasping this elusive concept and look at some contemporary ways of identifying and weighting relevant elements. How has political scientists measured the military power of rivaling states? We shall explore two approaches. The first may be designated ‘bean counting’. It was particularly attractive during the cold war with its emphasis on the ‘strategic nuclear balance’. The second is the more broad application of net assessment which incorporates military doctrine, intentions and trends. The Correlates of War Composite Index database which is the longest running quantitative open access source of relevance to the measurement of power in international politics, shall be introduced together with the Composite Index of National Capability (CINC). Most also recognize that soft power is a relevant concept in international politics. The big question is what needs to be included when embarking on a ranking exercise.

Readings will include:

IISS (2025). The Military Balance, Volume 125, Issue 1

Stefano Guzzini (2022) Power in World Politics, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.118

Robertson, P. E. (2022). The Real Military Balance: International Comparisons of Defense Spending. Review of Income and Wealth, 68(3), 797-818. https://doi.org/10.1111/roiw.12536

Michael Beckley The Power of Nations: Measuring What Matters. International Security 2018; 43(2), 7–44. https://doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00328

Skypek, T.M. (2010). Evaluating Military Balances Through the Lens of Net Assessment: History and Application. Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, 12:2 https://jmss.org/article/view/57875

David Baldwin (2013) ‘Power in International Relations’ in Carlsnaes, W., Risse T. & Simmons, B.: Handbook of International Relations, London, SAGE. Pp. 273-297

Yee-Kuang Heng (2007): Old Wine in New Bottles? Reconfiguring Net Assessment for 21st Century Security Analysis, Contemporary Security Policy, 28:3, 423-443

Charles L. Glaser, Chairn Kaufmann; What Is the Offense-Defense Balance and How Can We Measure It?. International Security 1998; 22 (4): 44–82. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/isec.22.4.44

The course runs over five days. Each day consist of two double sessions containing introduction and discussion of the reading in addition to practical exercises on how to use the different power measurement methods

The activity is evaluated regularly based on the study board's evaluation procedure. The responsible for the activity will be informed of any evaluation of the activity at the start of the semester. See link to the study board's evaluation practice here: https://intra.ruc.dk/fileadmin/assets/ise/Undervisning/Evaluation_procedures_at_ISE.pdf.

1) Understanding Power in International Relations /M. Kluth 2) Measuring Conventional Military Power /M. Kluth 3) Measuring Nuclear Military Power, Hybrid Power Forms and Societal Resilience /M. Kluth 4) Measuring Economic Power in International Relations /M. Kluth 5) Measuring Soft Power in International Relations /M. Kluth

At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:

• Explain and evaluate key concepts relating to the given technique or tool, using academically relevant terminology

• Argue for the utility of the technique or tool in practice

• Master the application of the basic functions of the given technique or tool

• Take a critical position in relation to the use of the technique or tool in practice.

Individual oral exam with time for preparation.

Time for preparation including time to pick a question by drawing lots: 25 minutes.
Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment: 25 minutes.

Permitted support and preparation materials: All (only notes written during the preparation may be brought into the exam).

Assessment: 7-point grading scale.
Moderation: Internal co-assessor.

Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam