Abstract
The modern conceptualization of great power competition has perceived external forces like
military power and economy size, leaving out the influence of domestic political bases on the
outcome of strategies formulated by great powers. This paper proposes a construct of a hidden
hierarchy to explore the implications of internal cohesion and the quality of governance on the
level of strategic performance of great powers. The study applies a qualitative comparative case
study, compares and contrasts the United States, China, and Russia, and is based on process
tracing and cross-case analysis data, using the indicators of governance, data on political
stability, and strategic performance. The results show that the high degree of internal cohesion
and good governance can promote the ability of a state to develop consistent policies, maintain
long-term foreign influence, and evolve to external pressure. Although the United States continues
to enjoy sound strategic performance due to institutional resilience despite polarization internally,
China has centralized governance and societal cohesiveness that allows it to implement strategic
performance goals on a long-term basis. By comparison, moderate cohesion and quality of
governance in Russia limit its capacity to transform material capabilities into strategic influence
that is sustained. The research can add value to the international relations theory by redefining
great power rivalry in the context of domestic politics and provide policy-relevant information on
the changing world order.