Measuring U.S. influence in the world

Abstract

We present a methodology to measure how in the process of implementing foreign policy, the United States prioritizes its resources. A measure of the return on the resource allocation is given by the estimated value in achieving the goals of foreign policy per unit of effort invested. The “investment” is represented by the priorities of the regions to influence since the priority serves as a proxy for resource allocation; the return is measured by the degree to which one perceives that the investment has achieved its intended goal. Prioritization is important in determining resource allocation which depends on how the nation-state perceives the overall effectiveness of its policies relative to the criteria applied in evaluating its performance. We demonstrate through the use of the Analytic Hierarchy/Network Process how to generate priorities and determine the relative influence and effectiveness of resource deployment.