The National–International Power of the States: A Trans-Structural Proposal

The question of national power remains a subject of controversy and debate in International Relations. At the theoretical level, the challenge lies in its definition, constitutive dimensions, and considered variables; at a technical level, the issue is its measurement. For us, a state’s national-international power is the result of a multidimensional, dynamic, and recursive combination of its capabilities, expressed at a specific historical moment within the development of the international system. These capabilities are categorized into three main groups: 1) material capabilities, 2) semimaterial capabilities, and 3) immaterial capabilities, forming the basis of three types of power: material, semimaterial, and immaterial. Drawing from the theoretical postulates of key paradigms in International Relations, this chapter presents a proposal for studying states’ national power.