The Next Superpower?

[Mkuki]

Fiji.

I'd prefer Tuvalu or Vanuatu, but I guess Fiji is okay.

[Soviet Russia Republic]

...

Russia: not. A. chance. in. hell. the days of the soviet union are over. in '91, after the conversion to capitalism and the russian federation, russia had to cut it's full military funding by 80% entire fleets and bases were abandoned: currently, in the bay of Kola (by murmansk), they is a fleet of old soviet typhoon class NUCLEAR submarines rusting away. in 1995, at a naval base abandoned after 1993ish, an abandoned submarine was discovered... containing a pair of nuclear ballistic missiles! (they were quickly reclaimed). even now, russia's military alone wouldn't be able to handle the full might of NATO forever. and it's economy is at the same level as the american state of texas. mother russia's golden years are long gone.

...

Thankful, since the 2000s, the military budget has been on the rise, quickly. Russia is now ranked third in military spending. Ships, like everything else, are now being built to replace older generations. Texas does not have a higher GPD than Russia Federation. Russia's "golden years" have been gone before, just to come back.


Anyway, my guess on the next superpower would be the People's Republic of China.

[Napkiraly]

Fiji.

I'd prefer Tuvalu or Vanuatu, but I guess Fiji is okay.

Yes, but Jim Carrey has already given Fiji brand recognition making it a more viable contender.

[Olivaero]

Jesus christ these threads... Always full of fapping over china... The funny thing is China's entire history as a Nation seems to be a story of almost there because they are completely backwards socially. Currently this is reflected in the near acceptance of the one party state because it makes everyone rich and they just tell everyone else to fuck off because they aren't Chinese so they cannot know whats best for china. But this inward looking attitude is a massive barrier to innovation. China needs to be more accepting of other peoples ways they need to get on the level of competing with the US, that's what really drives countries.

[Mkuki]

Jesus christ these threads... Always full of fapping over china... The funny thing is China's entire history as a Nation seems to be a story of almost there because they are completely backwards socially. Currently this is reflected in the near acceptance of the one party state because it makes everyone rich and they just tell everyone else to fuck off because they aren't Chinese so they cannot know whats best for china. But this inward looking attitude is a massive barrier to innovation. China needs to be more accepting of other peoples ways they need to get on the level of competing with the US, that's what really drives countries.

Much of China's history is filled with innovation and territorial expansion.

[Olivaero]

Jesus christ these threads... Always full of fapping over china... The funny thing is China's entire history as a Nation seems to be a story of almost there because they are completely backwards socially. Currently this is reflected in the near acceptance of the one party state because it makes everyone rich and they just tell everyone else to fuck off because they aren't Chinese so they cannot know whats best for china. But this inward looking attitude is a massive barrier to innovation. China needs to be more accepting of other peoples ways they need to get on the level of competing with the US, that's what really drives countries.

Much of China's history is filled with innovation and territorial expansion.

Yes slow gains, bit by bit. Not the jumps the west has had.

[Mkuki]

Much of China's history is filled with innovation and territorial expansion.

Yes slow gains, bit by bit. Not the jumps the west has had.

I'd like proof of that.

[Olivaero]

Yes slow gains, bit by bit. Not the jumps the west has had.

I'd like proof of that.

Well I can't find the graph I was looking for so I'll just concede the point, but simple logic should lead you to question why the chinese are currently far behind America and the EU development wise, when the Chinese emporers have had many times the territory and subsequently many times the natural resources of the European powers for many times the History of the US and despite this are still behind. Scientifically, socially and economically.

[Rio Cana]

Because the US has successfully controlled the Mexican cartels or got other nations to also embargo Cuba

And yet none of the nations in the Americas dare to directly defy the United States. Besides Cuba of course. And that's where the embargo is.

Seems you never saw this from some years ago.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGDQbswBIWo

I did not even mention the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States which is made up of the nations of the Americas minus the US and Canada. It is sort of a paralle organization to the OAS (Organization of American States). The difference is that the US since it has membership in the OAS, which is based in the US, has plenty of influence over the OAS. But the US has no influence over this new organization. Heard on the radio that the EU. was trying to negotiate with this new organization in order to try to increase trade thus pull the EU. out of its economic problems.

[EnragedMaldivians]

I'd like proof of that.

Well I can't find the graph I was looking for so I'll just concede the point, but simple logic should lead you to question why the chinese are currently far behind America and the EU development wise, when the Chinese emporers have had many times the territory and subsequently many times the natural resources of the European powers for many times the History of the US and despite this are still behind. Scientifically, socially and economically.

I think you're being too simplistic with regard to how China fell behind the West.

Read Paul Kennedy; specifically his "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers" if you want a good account of how Western Military ascendancy came to be.

It boils down to geography. They key being that Europe's natural frontiers led to the consolidation of multiple territorial units that were economic and military rivals, which imposed upon each unit an urgency with regard to developing their military capability in order to defend against and compete with each other.

Basically the lack of "enormous plains over which an empire of horseman could impose its swift dominion" or "broad and fertile river zones like those around those around the Ganges, Niles, Euphrates, Yellow and Yangste providing foord for masses of toiling, easily conquerabe peasants" meant that, following the end of the Roman Empire, it was exceptionally difficult in the long term to consolidate this entire area under a single, centalized political authority.

This in turn was largely responsible for Europe's political diversity putting a darwinistic onus on each state to stay competitive in the arms race, develop better weapons and steadily improve upon them - each development spreading to the different industrial and military centres that made up the political landscape (of course, complemented by the ability to hire mercenaries).

The vast gunpowder empires of the East however, such as China, Mughal India and the Ottoman Empire, even when they did make use of gunpowder and cannons, once their dominion had been established, the onus on them to further develop their military tactics and weapons simply wasn't as intense. This was because they effectively bought most of their competitors under their sovereignty or suzerainty (like the Ottomans did with the Karamanids and the Egyptian Mamluks).

This largely also explains why the so called military revolution of the 1500s took place in Europe, starting with the Italian Star forts (see: Trace Italliene) as a response to French invasions; these then had the effect of giving incentive to would be invaders to develop more powerful gunpowder weapons in order to be more effective in siege battles.

The long term implication of all this being, as Geoffrey Parker argues, that Europeans gradually built up an arsenal of weapons that could not be matched by any non-Western power in terms of military sophistication and potency, paving the way for European global ascendancy.

It had very little to do with having a "superior culture" to China.

[Citigroup]

Though Brazil certainly has the man power and potential, they do not have the economic prowess or capabilities. They also lack in certain areas such as technology and lots of economic disparity (much like China). Brazil has is experiencing an economic boom, industry is expanding exponentially, and large construction booms are occurring but they're still a long way off from the West.
China, has been experiencing a boom (though not for much longer), has a huge population and military, and a relatively technological society, though not as technological as the West. They still have many internal problems that they're dealing with, but they're still a big candidate.

[Azande]

China.

[Mkuki]

And yet none of the nations in the Americas dare to directly defy the United States. Besides Cuba of course. And that's where the embargo is.

Seems you never saw this from some years ago.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGDQbswBIWo

I did not even mention the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States which is made up of the nations of the Americas minus the US and Canada. It is sort of a paralle organization to the OAS (Organization of American States). The difference is that the US since it has membership in the OAS, which is based in the US, has plenty of influence over the OAS. But the US has no influence over this new organization. Heard on the radio that the EU. was trying to negotiate with this new organization in order to try to increase trade thus pull the EU. out of its economic problems.

Insulting former President Bush is hardly defying the US.

As for the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the name would seem to imply that the US would not be part of it. Also, I don't see how establishing such an organization is directly defying the United States.

[The United Soviet Socialist Republic]

The Russian Motherland!

[Tibetan Foothills]

India, China may have 15 minutes of glory in the near future, but India's rapid population and job growth will create a new world superpower. Plus China will stop growing, I promise you. Russia has potential, but they will never reach full potential where they are now financially and economically. Israel is to small to ever achieve greatness, and North Korea HA Ha funny.

[Mkuki]

India, China may have 15 minutes of glory in the near future, but India's rapid population and job growth will create a new world superpower. Plus China will stop growing, I promise you. Russia has potential, but they will never reach full potential where they are now financially and economically. Israel is to small to ever achieve greatness, and North Korea HA Ha funny.

Assuming they can deal with their demographic, economic, and social problems.

[Libertarian California]

Russia and Canada. Why? Because global warming is going to open up Siberia and the Canadian tundra to farming and resource production. Also, Arctic oil will come into greater prominence, as these two ice giants fight for the resources.

Unless, of course, the US annexes Canada...

[Tecknoko]

The Mushroom Kingdom.

Economy Coins are everywhere, and they're so valuable, 50- 100 are enough for an extra life
Politics Ruled by an Empress with absolute legislative power. Efficient, benevolent, pretty
Military At a first glance, it appears weak, not possessing the massive tanks, navies, and airship armadas of its neighbors. Yet, it also possesses superheroes capable of stomping entire fortresses into the ground on their own, breathing in space, jumping multiple stories in one go, throwing fireballs, flying by a variety of means, and having bursts of flat-out invulnerability. Needless to says, it's these superheroes that have ensured the Mushroom Kingdom's regional dominance. Also, dinosaur cavalry
Influence The Mushroom Kingdom's diplomacy is probably the most impressive of all. It promises cake, and it delivers. Indeed, its diplomacy is so skilled, it has even managed to cooperate with its usually-hostile neighbors from time to time. Once this cooperation becomes permanent, it's game over, world

I... I don't know what else to say other than, you sir, and a damn genius.

[Tunasai]

I'm sick of hearing people say China will be the next superpower once they overtake the US Economy. The likelihood this will happen is very slim. China has maintained an 8% growth rate for the past years. Thats impressive and explosive, but at the same time dangerous.

Its dangerous because the growth doesn't stop. Its dangerous because no economy can maintain that pace for long. Its like an engine. This particular engine is using energy really fast and performing at an impressive level after years of stagnation. People watch with wonder as the car speeds and its engine works. However, engines generate heat. This engine has been going so fast for so long its overheating, and the driver doesn't notice it. The friction caused has overheated the engine. And it will come to a point when it can't handle anymore. Its there the engine fails, falters, dies, and is broken.

The Chinese Economy has had such a growth rate its stunning. But their economy is overheating.
-relatively loose monetary policy
-undervalued exchange rate
-Property Boom, which is mainly a huge housing bubble ready to pop
-Inflation

At this rate the Chinese Economy will overheat and fail, leaving the economy destitute longer than the US Great Recession. The Chinese success story doesn't make sense. Whenever a nation messes with the natural process in order to stimulate growth it always fails.

http://www.economicshelp.org/essays/pro ... rowth.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/28 ... s-20111128

[EnragedMaldivians]

Why would they not be able to recover eventually, even if it does happen? Like I said, the U.S went through a series of depressions during the late nineteenth century and one exceptionally bad one in the twentieth century. Yet here we are.

I don't believe China will ever be a superpower as in the long term I believe we are returning o multipolarity - by why wouldn't they overcome their (supposedly inevitable) economic hurdles and eventually be able to more assertively start projecting power in East Asia?