Power analysis and power shifts

Measuring power 

Despite widespread consensus that the international system is undergoing a significant shift in the distribution of power, there is significant debate around the extent and nature of those shifts, and the implications for the strategies of rising and declining powers alike.  

This theme clarifies the sources of empirical disagreement within the power shifts debate and evaluates strategic responses to power transition. This research underpins the development of conceptual foundations and operational tools to support rigorous programmes of strategic net assessment.   

Research outputs 

Concepts of Power in the American Decline Debate 

How appropriate are the theoretical underpinnings of assessments of American decline? 

• Kitchen, Nicholas; Cox, Michael (2019) 'Power, Structural Power, and American Decline.' 
• Kitchen, Nicholas; Quinn, Adam (2018) 'Understanding American Power: Conceptual clarity, strategic priorities and the decline debate.' 

Grand Strategic Responses to Decline 

How do major states adjust their foreign policies to real or perceived decline in their relative power position?

• Panos Vasileiadis (2022) ‘Grand Strategy Under Decline: A Positional Theory’ 
• Kitchen, Nicholas (2020) 'Why American grand strategy has changed: international constraint, generational shift, and the return of realism.'  
• Kitchen, Nicholas (2014) 'Hegemonic transition theory and US foreign policy'
• Kitchen, Nicholas (2013) 'Structural shifts and strategic change: from the War on Terror to the Pivot to Asia'. 

Concepts for Strategic Net Assessment 

How can states assess the trajectory of their international power position? 

• Kitchen, Nicholas (2022) ‘Power Analysis, Strategic Net Assessment, and the New Global Power Competition’   
• Reports prepared for the UK Ministry of Defence supported by the Defence and Security Accelerator (UK OFFICIAL)