The Hidden Hierarchy: Reevaluating Internal Cohesion and Governance Quality in Great Power Competition

Abstract

The modern conceptualization of great power competition has perceived external forces like military power and economy size, leaving out the influence of domestic political bases on the outcome of strategies formulated by great powers. This paper proposes a construct of a hidden hierarchy to explore the implications of internal cohesion and the quality of governance on the level of strategic performance of great powers. The study applies a qualitative comparative case study, compares and contrasts the United States, China, and Russia, and is based on process tracing and cross-case analysis data, using the indicators of governance, data on political stability, and strategic performance. The results show that the high degree of internal cohesion and good governance can promote the ability of a state to develop consistent policies, maintain long-term foreign influence, and evolve to external pressure. Although the United States continues to enjoy sound strategic performance due to institutional resilience despite polarization internally, China has centralized governance and societal cohesiveness that allows it to implement strategic performance goals on a long-term basis. By comparison, moderate cohesion and quality of governance in Russia limit its capacity to transform material capabilities into strategic influence that is sustained. The research can add value to the international relations theory by redefining great power rivalry in the context of domestic politics and provide policy-relevant information on the changing world order.