This thesis develops a multidimensional framework for measuring international status, addressing the methodological gap between theoretical conceptions of status and their empirical operationalization. Drawing on insights from realism, constructivism, and social identity theory, the study conceptualizes status as comprising both attribute-based dimensions (material capabilities and institutional integration) and network-based dimensions (diplomatic recognition and prestige). Using Principal Component Analysis and network analytics on data spanning 1960-2015 for over 1,500 country-year observations, the research identifies distinct, yet correlated status dimensions and quantifies the degree of status inconsistency—the misalignment between a state's attributes and received recognition. Through cluster analysis, the study empirically validates a fourfold status typology (great powers, major powers, middle powers, and minor powers) that aligns with traditional international relations classifications. The findings confirm that status inconsistency generally decreased as the international system matured, though with significant variations across states and time periods. This research contributes theoretically by advancing our understanding of status as a multidimensional construct, methodologically by providing a replicable measurement framework, and empirically by documenting status hierarchies and their evolution over five decades. The results suggest that integrating both material capabilities and social recognition is essential for comprehending status dynamics in international relations.
Tianyi Yu (Sun,) studied this question.