Introducing the New Concept of National Power: From the Network Perspective

A state does not have power in isolation from others without considering its linked interactions to others nor from system structure without considering its structural positions in the system; rather, it has power as a consequence of its interactive relations with other states in the system and its structural positions in the networks of relations. This paper proposes a new power concept, using the social network perspective, called "structural network power," defined as the power of an individual state arising from its location within the networks of international relations. Adapting this new network power concept, this paper also assembles and provides the data on the new measure of national power (SNPI, Structural Network Power Index) 1950-2000 for all states existing in the international system.