Which country is poised to be the next superpower by 2050?

by **Murkwood** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:43 pm

I apologize for the lack of a humorous title. I am committing seppuku as I type this. May ~~Farn~~ the Kami have mercy on me.

The year 2050 is a hazy concept to many people, but it will come. When it does (save for any nuclear wars), which country is likely to join the US as a superpower or even unseat the US as the sole major superpower?

The year 2050 seems like a while from now, and speculation is hard. If I had to, I probably would say that the US would still be unrivaled militarily, but would be joined by China and Japan as economic powers. I also have high hopes for India.

So, as it says in the title, which country is poised to be the next superpower by 2050?

Also, INB4 "Sobuza II will rise again!"

by **Republic of Coldwater** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:45 pm

Zimbabwe

by **The Felnian Colonies** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:45 pm

I dunno, frankly. 50 years before Britain passed the flag to us, weren't they near or at the height of their power and seemingly unstoppable?

by **Spoder** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:47 pm

That's like asking what your children or grandchildren will look like in 2050.

The answer? Nobody fucking knows.

by **Bosakia** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:47 pm

Nicaragua.

by **Qubec** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:47 pm

The US is a falling superpower by 2050 the US may not be a superpower

by **Furry Alairia and Algeria** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:47 pm

The Next 11 would be a good hint, but not the greatest hint compared to the others.

Though I have high doubts about some of the countries, especially Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the newly infected Nigeria. On the poll, I'd have to go with either Brazil or China

by **The Vekta-Helghast Empire** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:47 pm

The fact that the last option in the poll is winning speaks volumes about what people think.

by **Berdanvia** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:47 pm

Maldives.

by **United Marxist Nations** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:49 pm

I know Russia and India both have ambitious aircraft carrier projects.

by **The Felnian Colonies** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:49 pm

The Vekta-Helghast Empire wrote:The fact that the last option in the poll is winning speaks volumes about what people think.

What's your interpretation of the matter?

by **Gezi Park** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:50 pm

I don't think there will be a "next" superpower but I picked Japan because it's my fave nation and I'd like it to be a superpower.

by **Murkwood** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:51 pm

Gezi Park wrote:I don't think there will be a "next" superpower but I picked Japan because it's my fave nation and I'd like it to be a superpower.

I'm rooting for India and Japan, but I kinda doubt India.

by **Oaledonia** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:51 pm

United Marxist Nations wrote:I know Russia and India both have ambitious aircraft carrier projects.

That doesn't make a nation a superpower, not even close.

Gezi Park wrote:I don't think there will be a "next" superpower but I picked Japan because it's my fave nation and I'd like it to be a superpower.

Nah.

Qubec wrote:The US is a falling superpower by 2050 the US may not be a superpower

I lol'd irl.

by **Obeyistan** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:52 pm

Bestest Korea, 'course.

by **Spoder** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:53 pm

There isn't necessarily one superpower.

Depending on how things go in Ukraine, and after that, Russia could again fit the definition of a superpower entirely (they meet almost all of the criteria save for a few).

by **Furry Alairia and Algeria** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:53 pm

United Marxist Nations wrote:I know Russia and India both have ambitious aircraft carrier projects.

And?
A aircraft carrier doesn't make a country a superpower, but Russia is getting a bit closer.

by **United Marxist Nations** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:54 pm

Oaledonia wrote:
United Marxist Nations wrote:I know Russia and India both have ambitious aircraft carrier projects.

That doesn't make a nation a superpower, not even close.
.

It is, however, quite a step in power-projection.

by **Vetalia** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:56 pm

None, at best it will be a prima inter pares of nations with the strongest lending their influence to a coalition of smaller states. I would say the US and India will be the heavyweights with China, Brazil and Nigeria as rivals.

by **The Scientific States** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:57 pm

I highly doubt that any nation will "unseat" the US as superpower. Though the US probably won't have the largest economy in 2050, it will still likely be the most influential nation when it comes to foreign affairs and the global economy.

by **Oaledonia** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:58 pm

United Marxist Nations wrote:It is, however, quite a step in power-projection.

Nice buzzword.
Too bad it doesn't actually exist outside of the doctrine level. And the fact that superpower is an economic title.

by **Kazirstan** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:58 pm

Poland stronk! Poland can onto superpower by 2050!

by **United Christian America** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:59 pm

Spoder wrote:That's like asking what your children or grandchildren will look like in 2050.

The answer? Nobody fucking knows.

This.

Or Homefront is actually an interactive Documentary, meaning that North korea is the next superpower.

Or, alternatively, the World becomes far more interconnected culturally and economically while larger economies like the US decline dramatically from the Great Recession, thus allowing for multiple nations to have a wide sphere of influence. There is no "one" superpower, but various regional powers that become strong enough to adequately threaten one another extensively if war were to occur. Thus war becomes far too costly of an option, people sue for peace, and eventually the UN becomes the actual governing body leading to UNITED EARTH.

Then, when mankind finally thought we were United, SETI picks up a mysterious transmission: An Ur-Quan hunting cry.

When Earth is inevitably defeated, and the slave shield engulfs our blue world, human folly begins anew.

by **Ieperithem** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:00 pm

Russia's the best candidate here. China's got it's own problems, Brazil's already on its way to a decline. Japan's a regional power, but they lack the population to ever become more than that, and I honestly doubt the EU will be around, at least in a recognisable state, by that point in the future. India's a fairly solid country, but they don't really seem to have any desire to become a superpower. Of course, Chile and South Korea have strong economies, and it's possible, albeit highly unlikely, that some absurd chain of events could lead them to regional dominance, but the only countries with a double - digit chance of superpowerdom by 2050 are Russia and the United States of America.

by **United Marxist Nations** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:02 pm

Oaledonia wrote:
United Marxist Nations wrote:It is, however, quite a step in power-projection.

Nice buzzword.
Too bad it doesn't actually exist outside of the doctrine level. And the fact that superpower is an economic title.

In that case, probably none of them will have reached the title; however, it will still likely produce a few new Great Powers.

Also, power-projection is definitely a thing. Right now, most nations are pretty limited by their land connections. If Russia and India acquire the planed 4 and 3 Aircraft Carriers respectively, then those will allow them to intervene through air power in far greater area than previously; I don't think it can be denied that the US Carrier fleet is instrumental in its status as the #1 power.