This volume investigates the global distribution of military power and defense capabilities during the late 1990s. Paul Dibb, a prominent strategic analyst, utilizes this reference work to provide a comprehensive assessment of national defense budgets, equipment inventories, and armed forces personnel across the globe. The text serves as a systematic framework for understanding the post-Cold War security environment and the shifting strategic priorities of major world powers.

Experts and defense analysts consistently cite this series as a foundational resource for historical military data. Readers frequently note the high density of technical information and the objective, data-driven approach maintained throughout the volume.