About THE CREATOR

Who is the mind behind the World Power Index ?

My name is Daniel Morales Ruvalcaba, the creator of the World Power Index (WPI). I hold a Ph.D. in Social Sciences from the University of Guadalajara (Mexico) and a Master’s in Latin American Studies from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). Currently, I am an Associate Professor at the Center for Latin American Studies at Sun Yat-sen University (China) and a member of the National System of Researchers (Mexico).

My journey began during my Master’s program, where I conceived the idea of creating a tool to visualize a nation’s power. I delved into economic, military, demographic, health, and various other data of countries. Gradually, I crafted a multidimensional and dynamic statistical indicator to represent national power. The WPI has a rich history and is now poised to explore new horizons in analysis.

Why create a Power Index?

power of united state

In the literature of International Relations, some ambiguity remains in the empirical identification of the powers due, mainly, to three reasons:

  1. Theoretical ambiguity in defining national power.
  2. Methodological constraints in grasping international hierarchy.
  3. Technical limitations in the analysis process.

Therefore, it is crucial to begin with a comprehensive understanding of power while simultaneously developing a methodology for research and employing analytical techniques.

From the perspective proposed here, national power is defined as: 

“the relative and relational potentiality (no capacity is measured in absolute terms and in relation to others) that defines position (structural position), capacity for action (what can be done or not to do), projection (its possible geoeconomic and geopolitical scope) and attraction (diffusion and geocultural projection) of a State in the international system” (Rocha & Morales, El poder nacional-internacional de los Estados, 2018, p. 159).

The World Power Index (WPI) and its sub-indexes serve as invaluable tools for assessing the national power of each state, offering precise insights into the configuration of its different dimensions due to their inherently quantitative nature.

Go to World Power Index

International research work

Over the past decade, my work has primarily focused on the foreign policies of Latin American countries, semiperipheral powers (especially the BRICS), subregional powers, regional integration, globalization processes, and the hegemonic interregnum, among other relevant topics.

Today, the WPI sets the stage for a research agenda adaptable to various fields and geographic areas within International Relations.
Researchers can utilize the techniques and methodologies proposed here to elucidate international phenomena.

Marie Curie-Skłodowska University (Poland) –
Research stay

Centre de recherches internationales, Sciences Po (France) –
Research stay

Universidad de La Republica (Uruguay) –
Summer research program

Center for Strategic Studies for Development (Mexico) – Researcher

high-impact academic publications

Since its significant development and consolidation in the doctoral thesis, «The BRICS Forum in the Reconfiguration of Global Governance in the 21st Century,» the WPI has evolved into a powerful tool for conducting extensive research on national power. This evolution has enabled us to contribute our work to top-tier, indexed journals.

Global researchers gain invaluable insights from our strategic expertise, unlocking fresh perspectives on international relations. 

Embark on an academic journey and elevate your research using the WPI as your analytical tool. Revolutionize your studies today.

Explore my academic work
World Power Index Latin American Structure and Pan-Am Games

2023. Latin American Structure and Pan-Am Games: Analysing the Medal Table from International Relations, Third World Quarterly, vol. 44, no. 9, p.: 2115-2135. DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2023.2220662
(Web of Science-SSCI, SCOPUS).

The distribution of power in the periphery

2023. The distribution of power in the periphery: An approach with the World Power Index, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, vol. 36, issue 2, pp.: 260-295 DOI: 10.1080/09557571.2020.1854178 (Web of Science-SSCI, SCOPUS).

World power Index Geoestructura un enfoque trans-estructural

2022. Geoestructura de poder en el sistema político internacional: un enfoque trans-estructural (en coautoría con Alberto Rocha), Geopolítica(s), vol. 13, no. 1, pp.: 41-81, DOI: 10.5209/geop.72589. (SCOPUS).

World power Index Subregional powers of Latin America

2020. Subregional powers of Latin America: Colombia and Venezuela. In: Vanden, Harry & Gary Prevost (Eds.) Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780190933609. DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1707.

The semiperipheral States in the 21st

2020. The semiperipheral States in the 21st century: Measuring the structural position of regional powers and secondary regional states, International Studies (SAGE). Vol. 57, no. 1, pages: 20-50. DOI: 10.1177/0020881719880769 (IBSS).

2018. El poder nacional-internacional de los Estados. Una propuesta trans-estructural (en coautoría con Alberto Rocha). Geopolítica(s), vol. 9, no. 1, páginas: 137-169. ISSN: 2172-3958, DOI: 10.5209/GEOP.57778 (SCOPUS, ESCI).

Daniel Morales Ruvalcaba world power index web

«National power is intricately linked to historical configurations of a nation’s capacities. To gain invaluable insights into these dynamics, the World Power Index (WPI) emerges as an indispensable technique, quantifying power and shedding light on the rise and fall of nations.»

Daniel Morales Ruvalcaba

Associate Professor in

Sun Yat Sen University 中山大学

The creator of world power index

About me