Next World Superpower?

[gflores]

Tell me if there is another country you would like added to the poll.
Wasn't sure if I should add the EU since it's not exactly a country... but I did anyway.

 

[sandorski]

Where is Lichtenstein?(sp)

 

[Strk]

Economically or Militarily? Because Japan is already one economically, but can never become a military one due to its consitution.

 

[daniel1113]

Hahahaha... you're kidding, right?

 

[Witling]

This is a subject that's interesting to me. If you are approximately 20 years old, I think that you will live to see the failure of the U.S. as a superpower. I do not think there will be another superpower in the foreseeable future, but I think the U.S. will be learning a powerful lesson about the limitations on human beings and what they can plan in complex situations.

 

[miguel]

If any oil-producing country in the Middle East ever got it's act together, it could be a very powerful force.

 

[GrGr]

Originally posted by: Whitling
This is a subject that's interesting to me. If you are approximately 20 years old, I think that you will live to see the failure of the U.S. as a superpower. I do not think there will be another superpower in the foreseeable future, but I think the U.S. will be learning a powerful lesson about the limitations on human beings and what they can plan in complex situations.

I don't think the US will cease to be a superpower anytime soon. However, I think the US will fail as a democracy.

I agree that there won't be another hyperpower soon. China has too many problems to become a true hyperpower.

 

[gflores]

Originally posted by: Strk
Economically or Militarily? Because Japan is already one economically, but can never become a military one due to its consitution.

I guess overall, but leaning towards the economy.

 

[SillyMan]

china is going to eat the world alive and not even need weapons
just its economy

 

[LongCoolMother]

looking at figures alone, id say china. US still has a decade or two or three left in it i believe. its still going strong right now. but IMO, it the US society has been on the downfall for the past 20 years or so. compare society and compare the youngsters that will make the next generation of americans. dont look to good compared to maybe 50 years ago. :\.

the strong will probably hold the US for a few more glorious decades though.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
looking at figures alone, id say china. US still has a decade or two or three left in it i believe. its still going strong right now. but IMO, it the US society has been on the downfall for the past 20 years or so. compare society and compare the youngsters that will make the next generation of americans. dont look to good compared to maybe 50 years ago. :\.

the strong will probably hold the US for a few more glorious decades though.

I think everybody has said something like this about every generation.

 

[kandarp]

i say india if they got their people out of poverty...imagine a billion computer programmers in a democracy with nukes

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
looking at figures alone, id say china. US still has a decade or two or three left in it i believe. its still going strong right now. but IMO, it the US society has been on the downfall for the past 20 years or so. compare society and compare the youngsters that will make the next generation of americans. dont look to good compared to maybe 50 years ago. :\.

the strong will probably hold the US for a few more glorious decades though.

I think everybody has said something like this about every generation.

Hehe, true, except this time it's accurate! One older generation that says it will be right, the trick is in the younger generation proving them wrong!

 

[Martin]

I'd say....30-50 years from now I can see a large 3-way. The US, the EU (probably closely allied with Russia, though I don't see Russia being part of the EU) and China. Japan and India will still be regional powers, but not world/superpowers. Japan is limited by its population and military, and India by its painfully slow economic progress (they are far behind china, so the chance of them overtaking china are slim)

Anyway, I can imagine each of those superpowers making up 20-25% of world GDP and dominating world politics. Naturally, military power will follow from economic power. When china matches the US economy (probably in about 20-25 years) its spending in military will almost match what the US spends, thus it can become a military and an economic power.

 

[preslove]

I think extranational organizations-- the UN, World Bank, WTO, International Criminal Court, along with the regional organizations like the EU and OAS (organization of american states), and/or their progeny will eventually make nation superpowers obsolete. The international trend is towards collective security and collective justice, with the rule of law governing international security, justice, and trade. This is why everybody around the world is pissed off at bush for ignoring the UN. His father and Clinton both used the UN for authority for foriegn interventions, allaying any fears of old fashioned imperial designs. In doing so they were continuing a long evolving interntional cooperative spirit that started with the Congress of Vienna. It's an extension of suffrage to the rest of the world, giving small countries a stage and a voice to compete with the holders of military and economic power. Bush's imperial jaunt is seen as a reversion into barbarism. Hopefully international cooperation will strengthen in the face of our arrogance, making "superpower" an obsolete term once it no longer applies to us.

 

[KenGr]

None of the above

 

[rchiu]

I think EU has a better chance of becoming a world superpower than China. Some of the country in EU is already well developed and has much more political pull than China in international affairs. EU definitely have a long road ahead trying to integrate vastly different countries and figure out how to share power. But another 4 year of cowboy diplomacy by the US will give a strong incentive to those EU countries, especially Frence and Germany, to work out the differences and become a stronger voice.

China on the other hand have lots of internal problem to deal with. There are many economic and social problems, and the only reason those problem are not obvious is because the government is taking a strict control approach in domestic and economic policy. China needs to start solving those problem rather than hide it under the carpet, or they will explode one day. China is also much less aggressive in international politics, so even if China have a stronger economy or military, it will not be as involved nor influencial in international politics.

 

[Czar]

for china the only way is up

japan, no sorry, dont think so

India, alot less of a chance than japan

EU, it seems Europe loves to take things slow right now so maybe someday they will be a superpower but I think china will get there first

 

[gflores]

Originally posted by: KenGr
None of the above

Care to state who?

 

[petery83]

i'd say it comes down to China and the EU

China has an immense population, and seems to be allowing more private businesses to be run. this will boost their economy (which could be more powerful than ours eventually considering their population), and they can go from there...they are also making an attempt to modernize their military, and this will be more successful when they are stronger economically

the EU could probably challenge the US economically, collectively they do have a larger population, and are pretty developed. i think they're less likely to challenge us militarily though, despite their advanced technology (compared to china)

 

[Deleted member 4644]

I think China, the US, and the EU will have the strongest national militaries and economies. I think, however, that international organizations will continue to get stronger as well.

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: Strk
Economically or Militarily? Because Japan is already one economically, but can never become a military one due to its consitution.

And what makes Japan an economical Superpower? What are your measures?

GDP? then why not China, theirs is higher. GDP per person? Then why not Luxemburg, theirs is higher.

 

[freegeeks]

the EU is not interested in becoming a US style military superpower.
the EU wants a stronger integrated military but that's about it

economically the EU wants to be a superpower (and is already one in a sense)

IMO China will be the big contender on the military front

 

[RabidMongoose]

Originally posted by: freegeeks
the EU wants a stronger integrated military but that's about it

We can only hope!

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose

Originally posted by: freegeeks
the EU wants a stronger integrated military but that's about it

We can only hope!

why? what are you worried about?