What Is The Evaluation Of National Power?

The task of evaluation of power is quite difficult because so many tangible factors are involved in the measurement of a nation's power. The result of war cannot provide an adequate criterion of power because power in the war is not the only kind of power. A nation may be powerful otherwise but may be defeated in the war. One cannot depend upon the results of war as a criterion of the measurement of national power.

A victorious nation is not necessarily a powerful nation. According to Prof. Morgenthau the nations commit three types of errors in evaluating their own power and the power of other nations, viz. the relativity of power, the permanency of a certain factor and the fallacy of the single factor. When we say that one nation is powerful and the other nation is weak we always imply a comparison. In other words [he concept of power is always a relative one. One of the most elementary and frequent errors committed by the states is that they neglect the relative character of power and treat it in absolute terms. If a particular nation is powerful today it may become relatively weak tomorrow and some other nations may emerge powerful. This fact must be borne in mind while making evaluation of power.

Secondly, it is wrong to assume that the factors of national power are permanent and immune from change. On the other hand these factors undergo constant change. Therefore, one should never view a particular factor as the source of power of a nation in the dynamic, ever-changing character of the power relations between nations.