Measuring Influence of Small European States: Development of an Index (LTgalia)

Project idea

The project aims to develop an index for measuring the influence of European small states in the international arena. This index will provide a systematic framework for assessing Lithuania’s foreign policy strategic choices, their effectiveness, and its position in the international environment relative to other small states.

The study will address the following objectives: 1) Conduct a comprehensive review of academic literature to identify key trends in research on state power and influence; 2) Analyze existing indices measuring state power or influence, evaluating their methodologies, data sources, strengths, and limitations; 3) Identify relevant categories and criteria for measuring power and influence, integrating them into the proposed influence measurement index; 4) Develop explanatory and methodological materials to support the regular implementation and refinement of the small states influence index.

The primary outcome of this study will be a research report presenting: a systematic review of academic literature on state power and influence measurement methodologies; an analysis and methodological assessment of existing power and influence indices; the conceptual framework and methodology for the newly developed index measuring the influence of small states in international politics. The report will be supplemented by methodological annexes and instructions, including a detailed algorithm for constructing the index, guidelines for data collection and processing, and recommendations for its practical application.