The measure of power and the power of measure

In his talk, Guzzini shows that realist theories of International Relations would need a measure of power and that yet, for the characteristics of power, such measure is of no avail. As a result, explanations in terms of the maximisation of power or of the balance of power are eventually unfalsifiable. Yet whether or not realist theorists can find such measure, practitioners have been trying to find ways to measure it for dealing with and establishing world order. The way is understood in international society is crucial for establishing rank and for influencing the character of inter-state relations. Not having a measure of power makes the struggle for imposing a certain measure an important of power itself.

Stefano Guzzini is Professor at Uppsala University and PUC-Rio de Janeiro. He serves as the President of the Central and East European International Studies Association and is currently editor of International Theory (Cambridge University Press).