What are the levels of state power, and how are they differentiated?
International & regional bodies
UN Secretary-General António Guterres separates veto-wielding "superpowers" from "middle-sized powers". He says superpowers break international law and then use their Security Council veto to protect themselves from consequences.
Research institutes
The research institutes describe the top tier by its material bases: a dominant currency and the size of an economy for the US, and manufacturing output for China. They describe small states as countries whose leverage comes from geography and whose independence has to be actively managed.
- Why the US cannot afford to lose dollar dominance · atlanticcouncil.org
- Measuring China's Manufacturing Might · chinapower.csis.org
- The Mulino Doctrine: How Panama Is Redefining Small State Strategy · csis.org
Justice Council Political Analysis
Only one tier exists in law: the five veto-holding permanent members of the Security Council. Every other tier (superpower, great power, middle power, regional power, small state) is an analysts' label. These labels are ranked by, in order of weight: (1) the legal ability to block collective action through the veto; (2) material power, meaning economic size, a dominant currency and industrial capacity; (3) military and naval reach; (4) leverage from geography, which is how small states gain weight.
The only legal tier can be changed by Security Council reform: expanding membership, as Guterres urges, or restricting the veto. General Assembly resolution 76/262 (2022) already requires the Assembly to debate every veto. Making vetoes carry a real cost would narrow the gap between the top tier and everyone else.
Conclusion
States are usually ranked as superpowers, great powers, middle or regional powers, and small states. The tier depends on how far a state can shape outcomes beyond its own borders. Superpowers combine global economic, financial, industrial and military reach, and in the UN they hold a veto. Middle powers act regionally but cannot shield themselves. Small states rely on geography and careful balancing among the larger powers.