Analyzing the International Assessments of the Military Power of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Countries of the World

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to highlight the basic methodological and methodical approaches to the construction and calculation of ratings (indices), which allow to assess the military capabilities of individual countries of the world, to conduct correct international comparisons of the military power of countries and to determine Ukraine’s place in the system of these indicators. The publication defines methodological and methodical approaches to comparing the military power of individual countries and the combat capability of their armies, as proposed by various international organizations and institutions. In particular, an analysis of the database provided by the International Institute for Strategic Studies was carried out in terms of the number of military personnel. The ranking of world countries in terms of budget expenditures for military needs is analyzed, which is provided by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), as well as ratings of world countries for certain types of military equipment, such as: aviation equipment, tanks, naval vessels, etc. Measurements and international comparisons of multidimensional militarization processes are based on indicators of international ranking systems: the military power of countries and the combat capability of armies – based on the Global Firepower (GFP), the military burden on the economy and society as a whole – based on the Global Militarization Index (GMI). Methodological aspects of the formation of these international rankings are also considered; the results of positioning in the rankings of top countries and of Ukraine are given.

Keywords

• national security
• military force
• military power
• military conflict
• militarization
• armed forces
• integral index
• international rankings
• military potential