As we move closer and closer to a globalized, singularly powerful world, certain countries
have been more influential than others.
While the term “superpower” is regularly used as an attainable goal for countries like
Brazil or India, the concept itself is not that well understood.
So we wanted to know, what exactly IS a superpower, and which countries fit the description?
Well, overall, a superpower can be considered any state that has preeminent global influence.
Any decisions, whether domestic or foreign, have far reaching consequences even outside
of their immediate borders, allies, or enemies.
This sort of hegemony is best characterized by seven dimensions of power.
Natural ones, such as geography, population, and resources, as well as social factors like
economy, military, diplomacy, and national identity.
These country traits have historically represented wide-reaching, dominant civilizations, such
as Ancient Egypt, the Mongol Empire, and the Roman Empire.
However, the idea of a “superpower” is a 20th century classification, and has farther
reaching implications than just regional dominance.
World War Two was one of the first major displays of global power, and the start of globalization
through communication and economic cooperation, as we know it today.
In the aftermath of the conflict, three major superpowers remained standing, and collectively
divided up the world.
These were the United States, the Soviet Union, and the British Empire.
On every level, these powers were at the top of the rankings, each controlling massive
regions, with the British still wielding power over colonies around the world, and each holding
onto a distinct cultural and national identity.
However, in the mid-20th century, the British began to see their influence wane, while the
US and USSR only grew, especially militarily.
An event known as the 1956 Suez Crisis saw the British, among other nations such as Israel
and France, invade Egypt, in an effort to topple the country’s President.
Not only were they unable, but they drew the ire of the United States and the United Nations,
which demanded the British stop their invasion.
Having been weakened militarily by World War Two just a decade earlier, they withdrew,
in a humiliating move that signaled an inability to maintain dominance on their own.
This left the United States and the Soviet Union as the world’s two remaining superpowers,
and was the beginning of their fight for global hegemony, in what was known as the Cold War.
Over the next 50 years, the two proved their might.
In land size, the USSR was the largest nation on earth, while the US was the fourth largest.
Their populations were comparable at around a quarter billion residents each.
They were the top two economic powers, and while the Soviet Union had one of the largest
military on earth, the United States spent more than any other country by far.
Perhaps most importantly, the two had absolute alliances around the world.
The USSR had direct supportive relationships with of Central and Eastern Europe, and much
of Southeast Asia including China.
The United States was a predominant ally of Western Europe, the former British Empire,
and was aligned with most of the world’s largest economies.
Ideologically, they represented a divide between capitalism and communism, with most of their
allies falling into one group or the other.
But in 1991, the Soviet Union officially collapsed, partially due to their efforts to defeat the
United States, and partially due to internal corruption coupled with dramatic reforms that
crippled its government.
With the dissolution of the USSR, the United States reigned supreme, not just over the
former Soviet Union, but the world at large.
Today, the US dollar is by far the most commonly used reserve currency in the world.
The English language is now considered a global language, and is the most commonly taught
foreign language.
Militarily the United States outspends all countries by an enormous margin, more than
the next 8 biggest spenders combined.
In short, the only remaining superpower on earth is the United States.
But that may be changing.
Emerging economies, known as the BRIC nations, have seen unprecedented economic growth and
population booms.
These are Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and each stands a strong chance of upending
US hegemony.
There countries have seen renewed influence, with China as a manufacturing giant, India
with the second largest population on earth, Russia as a geopolitical manipulator, and
Brazil as a soft power with immense natural resources.
Additionally, the emergence of the European Union as a stable collective has raised the
possibility that they will become the next superpower, similar to the United States,
especially as the US has seen its international standing falter since the 2016 election.
As the rest of the world see breakneck growth, it may only be a matter of years until a new
superpower emerges to rival
the US.