Measuring Efficiency: Data Envelopment Analysis in International Relations

Evaluating the performance of states, international organizations, and global policies remains a persistent challenge in the field of International Relations (IR). Traditional assessment methods often struggle to account for the complexity of inputs and outputs involved in international cooperation, diplomacy, and development. This paper explores the application of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)—a non-parametric efficiency measurement technique originally developed in operations research—as a tool for assessing the relative efficiency of international actors. By examining how DEA can be used to compare resource use and policy outcomes across multiple contexts, the study aims to demonstrate its value in identifying best practices and performance gaps. Through theoretical analysis and empirical case studies, this paper argues that DEA offers a systematic and replicable framework for evaluating efficiency in IR, providing insights often overlooked by conventional methods.