Next Superpower ?

[Empire of Narnia]

China and India.

[Jamjai]

China and India.

There'll be two superpowers I didn't expect that

[Empire of Narnia]

China and India.

There'll be two superpowers I didn't expect that

Well, three counting the USA.

[Greater Istanistan]

GLORIOUS NIPPON

CULTURE = DOMINATE WITH RAMEN, WITH ANIME, WAO

ECONOMY = NOT INCREDIBAD FOREVER, RECOVER SOON, SAMURAI NINJITSU KAWAI WORK ETHIC, MUCH WAO

MILITARY = MUCH TECHNOLOGY, =BIG SPENDING INCREASE, SAMURAI, =NINJITSU MUCH WAO MODERN SO COOL, SUPER WAO

...

China, if they can actually decently project their power instead of simply having it.

[Sebtopiaris]

'Straya mate.

[Sebtopiaris]

But, in all seriousness, unless some serious shit happens, America's still probably gonna be the top dog. Sure, we'll have China getting closer, and India and Brazil and such rising in influence, but in the near future I'd still say the USA.

[Spoder]

China.

If Russia picks its game up and people finally realize what a fucking stupid bull Putin is, they could end up a superpower as well.

[Master Shake]

GLORIOUS NIPPON

CULTURE = DOMINATE WITH RAMEN, WITH ANIME, WAO

ECONOMY = NOT INCREDIBAD FOREVER, RECOVER SOON, SAMURAI NINJITSU KAWAI WORK ETHIC, MUCH WAO

MILITARY = MUCH TECHNOLOGY, =BIG SPENDING INCREASE, SAMURAI, =NINJITSU MUCH WAO MODERN SO COOL, SUPER WAO

...

They have already penetrated the Americas and Europe. $30 anime DVDs...

Economy was super powerful in the 70s and 80s. Japan shall rise again.

Just build an Army of Gundam(Zeon style battle suits) and thats it.

[Spoder]

GLORIOUS NIPPON

CULTURE = DOMINATE WITH RAMEN, WITH ANIME, WAO

ECONOMY = NOT INCREDIBAD FOREVER, RECOVER SOON, SAMURAI NINJITSU KAWAI WORK ETHIC, MUCH WAO

MILITARY = MUCH TECHNOLOGY, =BIG SPENDING INCREASE, SAMURAI, =NINJITSU MUCH WAO MODERN SO COOL, SUPER WAO

...

They have already penetrated the Americas and Europe. $30 anime DVDs...

Economy was super powerful in the 70s and 80s. Japan shall rise again.

Just build an Army of Gundam(Zeon style battle suits) and thats it.

Who needs mobile suits?

[Pimps Inc]

Mexico.

[Greater Istanistan]

If they can get those nuclear reactors back on and liberalize their economy significantly, along with instituting a national childcare policy and allowing some immigration to provide cheap labour, I don't see how they couldn't repair their economy by the end of Abe's current term. And although the anime industry is pretty much dead in terms of innovation, I think in terms of popularity it's never been bigger in the West.

Japan is disproportionately represented in terms of cultural influence, I think.

[Magthere]

A superpower is a state with a dominant position in international relations and is characterised by its unparalleled ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale. This is done through the means of both military and economic strength, as well as diplomatic and soft power influence.

Based on this WIkipedia definition I'm thinking that rather than having any Super Powers, it will be a case of U.S. losing it's Super Power status as other nations get closer to its level of influence making it more of a Great Power competition overall. I still think the U.S. will be the strongest of these Great Powers but the competition will be much fiercer than it is currently.

[Master Shake]

Japan is disproportionately represented in terms of cultural influence, I think.

If every Otaku(like me could afford to go to Japan) their tourism industry would dominate the Asian region. Hell I don't understand why people underestimate Japan. They are in as good a position as India or Brazil as far as becoming a super power. I mean Japan is already modernized enough they just need to capitalize on their advantages.

[The Sotoan Union]

Japan is disproportionately represented in terms of cultural influence, I think.

If every Otaku(like me could afford to go to Japan) their tourism industry would dominate the Asian region. Hell I don't understand why people underestimate Japan. They are in as good a position as India or Brazil as far as becoming a super power. I mean Japan is already modernized enough they just need to capitalize on their advantages.

Aside from their economic difficulties, demographics is a commonly cited reason as to why Japan would have problems in the future.

[Spoder]

If every Otaku(like me could afford to go to Japan) their tourism industry would dominate the Asian region. Hell I don't understand why people underestimate Japan. They are in as good a position as India or Brazil as far as becoming a super power. I mean Japan is already modernized enough they just need to capitalize on their advantages.

Aside from their economic difficulties, demographics is a commonly cited reason as to why Japan would have problems in the future.

Japan's cultural influence is only indirect anyways.

[Greater Istanistan]

Unfortunately for them, they've got a completely stagnant economy that hasn't really progressed since the 80s, coupled with a growing geostrategic challenge from China, a decline in relative American power which requires them to up their own defensive strength, and large economic competition from China and South Korea.

Their population isn't growing - in fact, it's liable to shrink. Their female workforce participation is ludicrously small. The wage gap is huge. Nobody wants free trade with them because they're all so protective of their agriculture sector. Since the nuclear plants were shut down, they've depended on expensive imported oil for their electricity. In-work poverty rates are high because companies are afraid to shell out cash. Their education system actually breaks kids.

On the other hand, I can see a Japanese recovery. They'll never reach the relative prosperity they saw in the 80s (y'know, second-largest economy and all that), but if they handle things right they could very well get back on their feet.

[Spoder]

Unfortunately for them, they've got a completely stagnant economy that hasn't really progressed since the 80s, coupled with a growing geostrategic challenge from China, a decline in relative American power which requires them to up their own defensive strength, and large economic competition from China and South Korea.

Their population isn't growing - in fact, it's liable to shrink. Their female workforce participation is ludicrously small. The wage gap is huge. Nobody wants free trade with them because they're all so protective of their agriculture sector. Since the nuclear plants were shut down, they've depended on expensive imported oil for their electricity. In-work poverty rates are high because companies are afraid to shell out cash. Their education system actually breaks kids.

On the other hand, I can see a Japanese recovery. They'll never reach the relative prosperity they saw in the 80s (y'know, second-largest economy and all that), but if they handle things right they could very well get back on their feet.

But as far as becoming a serious superpower?

Perhaps in 50 years. Highly unlikely, but who knows what can happen over the course of 50 years?

In 100 years, I can't make any predictions I could call close to accurate.

[The Sotoan Union]

Unfortunately for them, they've got a completely stagnant economy that hasn't really progressed since the 80s, coupled with a growing geostrategic challenge from China, a decline in relative American power which requires them to up their own defensive strength, and large economic competition from China and South Korea.

Their population isn't growing - in fact, it's liable to shrink. Their female workforce participation is ludicrously small. The wage gap is huge. Nobody wants free trade with them because they're all so protective of their agriculture sector. Since the nuclear plants were shut down, they've depended on expensive imported oil for their electricity. In-work poverty rates are high because companies are afraid to shell out cash. Their education system actually breaks kids.

On the other hand, I can see a Japanese recovery. They'll never reach the relative prosperity they saw in the 80s (y'know, second-largest economy and all that), but if they handle things right they could very well get back on their feet.

I really don't think America's power in the Pacific is declining. If anything competition with China and with North Korea constantly doing something the US has become more wary of the Pacific. These recent Japanese military upgrades have been done with US aid and support.

[Greater Istanistan]

I'm not arguing that raw power is declining. The US military has never been stronger. Ever. It's unparalleled in professionalism, technology, and logistics. I'm arguing, however, that it's declining in relative terms. Compared to the threats it's facing, it's becoming less completely dominant than before. The fact that Japan is up sizing its forces is reflective of this. It's unprecedented.

As for Japan, it isn't going to be a superpower. To be one, a nation would have to have both power itself and the will to use it. Japan has the potential to attain the power required to become a superpower, but it entirely lacks the political and social will to exert dominance. As such, it'll never be a real superpower.

[Master Shake]

Their education system actually breaks kids.

Don't tel Nervun that...He thinks Japan has the best schools ever....uniforms aside..he is wrong...

[The Sotoan Union]

I'm not arguing that raw power is declining. The US military has never been stronger. Ever. It's unparalleled in professionalism, technology, and logistics. I'm arguing, however, that it's declining in relative terms. Compared to the threats it's facing, it's becoming less completely dominant than before. The fact that Japan is up sizing its forces is reflective of this. It's unprecedented.

As for Japan, it isn't going to be a superpower. To be one, a nation would have to have both power itself and the will to use it. Japan has the potential to attain the power required to become a superpower, but it entirely lacks the political and social will to exert dominance. As such, it'll never be a real superpower.

If a decline in relative strength inspires the US to focus more on the Pacific, and to help Japan with its military, then it's really not a problem.

[Greater Istanistan]

I'm not saying that it's a problem. I have no objection to such a policy. I'm just pointing out that the US is no longer capable of acting with impunity and is forced to rely on other nations to prop up its reaction to changing global circumstances.

[Romalae]

Probably Nauru.

[The New Sea Territory]

Swaziland.

[Master Shake]

I'm not saying that it's a problem. I have no objection to such a policy. I'm just pointing out that the US is no longer capable of acting with impunity and is forced to rely on other nations to prop up its reaction to changing global circumstances.

Our debt(USA) is backed by nuclear hellfire. The world knows this....