National Capability Framework
The National Capability Framework is a comprehensive, open-source model for systematically measuring and benchmarking national strategy and capability.
3 Domains
The framework encompasses nine distinct dimensions across three foundational domains: Hard, Soft, and Economic Capability. At the core of national power, influence, and prosperity lies capability itself—the essential enabler of a nation’s ability to develop, project, and sustain strategic advantage. This framework provides a coherent and structured lens through which to evaluate national strength, revealing critical gaps and comparative advantages across areas such as economic performance, technological sophistication, human capital, natural resources, and geopolitical leverage. By offering a standardized language and methodology, it equips policymakers, analysts, and institutions with the tools required to make informed, evidence-based decisions that bolster national resilience, sharpen competitiveness edge, and secure enduring strategic interests.
Hard Capability
National Resources, Critical Technology and National Security
Soft Capability
Human Development, National Leadership & Global Influence
Economic Capability
Fiscal Capability, National Productivity & Global Trade
9 Dimensions
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Hard Capability
Resources, Technology & Security
Soft Capability
Human Development & Influence
Economic Capability
Finance, Productivity & Trade
National Resources
National resources reflect a nation's capacity in advanced manufacturing, energy, water and food security, and sustainable use of natural assets.
Human Development
Human development measures the strength of education, health systems, demographic profiles, and innovation in human potential.
Economic Competitiveness
Economic competitiveness assesses fiscal and monetary foundations, financial depth, governance, global integration, and innovation capability.
Critical Technology
ICT, Energy, BioTech, Sensing & Timing, Quantum, AI, Advanced Materials, Robotics & Defense
National Leadership
Leadership reflects the quality of national governance, policy effectiveness, institutional stability, and integrity in public administration.
Productivity and Labor
Productivity and labor capture industrial complexity, workforce skills, R&D output, and the overall effectiveness of the labor force.
National Security
National security spans intelligence, land, maritime, air, cyber, and space capabilities that underpin a nation's strategic defence posture.
Global Influence
Global influence is defined by diplomatic reach, national branding, strategic communications, diaspora ties, and narrative control.
Trade and Investment
Trade and investment assess infrastructure, foreign capital, policy resilience, digital trade, and openness to global supply chains.
Defining National Capability
National Capability refers to the comprehensive set of a nation’s tangible and intangible assets, institutional capacities, and strategic enablers that collectively determine its ability to pursue, sustain, and project power, influence, and prosperity. It encompasses the hard, soft, and economic dimensions of national strength—ranging from military and technological capacity to governance quality, cultural influence, and economic performance. As a multidimensional and dynamic construct, national capability serves as the foundational infrastructure through which states shape strategy, respond to global challenges, and secure long-term competitive and geopolitical advantage.
National capability is not the same as power; rather, it represents the enabling conditions and underlying determinants of power. While power is the actual ability to influence outcomes or actors—often expressed through military force, economic leverage, or diplomatic influence—capability refers to the structural assets, resources, and systems that make such power possible. Capability is the foundation; power is its expression. Without capability, power cannot be developed, sustained, or credibly projected.
Power is not the ultimate purpose or defining objective of a nation—it is a means, not an end. The true purpose of national strategy is to secure prosperity, sustainability, and competitiveness for a nation’s people over the long term. While power plays an important role in enabling a country to compete for resources, influence partners, and defend its interests, it is only one expression of a deeper foundation: national capability.
The Global Institute for National Capability (GINC) deliberately focuses on measuring and benchmarking capability rather than power, because capability reflects the enduring, systemic conditions that allow a nation to thrive—such as economic resilience, technological innovation, institutional strength, and human development. By prioritizing capability, the GINC framework provides a balanced, people-centered view of national strength, grounded not in the pursuit of dominance, but in the strategic imperative to build inclusive prosperity, sustainability, and long-term competitiveness.