Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija

Although the issues of military studies are increasingly analysed in the framework of political science, the representatives of international relations and military studies use different ways of interpreting military power – one of the key aspects of military studies. With the intention of expanding the possibilities of applying theories of international relations to military studies, this article aims to show the need for a synthesis of theoretical insights into neoclassical realism and military studies for scientific interpretation and research of the military power structure. The inducement of inter-paradigmatic debates by revealing and comparing military power explanation methods reflects a theoretical attempt to expand the possibilities for the application of international relations theories on warfare studies. Although the application of neoclassical realism theory to the explanation of military power is not new, this study explores broader possibilities of the application of this theory. The study substantiates the influence of non-material resources and unit-level variables on the structure of military power while making the assumption that neoclassical realism creates conditions to reveal the process of military power conversion but not the content of military power.

The states (countries) are playing game of power and interest in the international system (IS) to survive and develop. In this game, the states compete to take the best position in the ranking of power. This allows to pursue their national interests more effectively. States with the greatest power (top states) decide on the polar structure and geostrategic nature of IS at every level (global, regional, local). Investigating the structure (static research) and nature (dynamic research) of global balance of power (GBP) after the Cold War three types of power: economic power, military power and geopolitical power were taken into consideration. The results of theoretical and empirical research are relevant to the decision-making process of the political system of states directly or indirectly involved in the international security.