Dissertation Defense of Allen Hammerquist
The Impact of Liberalism on State Hard Power
June 29, 2026
11:00 a.m. in BAL 7009
Abstract: This study examines the impact of liberalism on innovation, corruption, and, subsequently, state hard power in the international order. It hypothesizes that political, economic, and information freedoms facilitate the evolution of ideas and reduce corruption in society, resulting in a more efficient economy and greater wealth, income, and GDP per capita and, subsequently, greater state economic and military power. It employs four basic statistical models. The first two models examine the statistical relationship between domestic freedoms and innovation and corruption. They use a variety of metrics to measure the three key types of power that constitute the pillars of Western liberalism: political power (democracy), economic power (free markets), and information power (freedom of speech). These are assessed against metrics for innovation and corruption. The second set of models examine the impact of innovation and corruption on two key types of state hard power: economic and military power. Both models employ pattern and regression analysis of several years’ worth of data in order to assess the impact of power equality and innovation on state hard power more accurately. This study is useful for not only understanding the impact of Western liberalism on state power in the international order, but the key role played by innovation and corruption in that process as well.
Committee:
Dr. Matthew DiLorenzo, Chairperson
Dr. Jesse Richman
Dr. Georg Menz
Dr. Robert McNab