Who will be superpowers in 2050?

[Altito Asmoro]

South Africa, provided they can get their political problems sorted out. I can certainly see them starting towards stronger economic links with the rest of Africa, and they've certainly got the infrastructure to do it.

Indonesia, because of it's massive resource wealth and population base. It needs some serious effort to really bring it up to date, but I can see it joining the great powers in the East very shortly.

Brazil, because the problems it's having with corruption won't stick around forever. Brazil is already leading the way, and things like MERCOSOUR (or whatever it's called) as well as the fact that Brazil is starting to be an alternative to America for many nations in Latin America will only make this process quicker.

Well. Anything can happens.

[Machtergreifung]

South Africa, provided they can get their political problems sorted out. I can certainly see them starting towards stronger economic links with the rest of Africa, and they've certainly got the infrastructure to do it.

Indonesia, because of it's massive resource wealth and population base. It needs some serious effort to really bring it up to date, but I can see it joining the great powers in the East very shortly.

Brazil, because the problems it's having with corruption won't stick around forever. Brazil is already leading the way, and things like MERCOSOUR (or whatever it's called) as well as the fact that Brazil is starting to be an alternative to America for many nations in Latin America will only make this process quicker.

Well. Anything can happens.

Well, if fifty years Sweden went from a backwater country in Europe to being a major player in European politics, so anything can happen, just somethings are more likely than others.

[Sabara]

Norway, perhaps..

[Kulverint]

China, Russia, Germany, France, UK, Brazil

[Blakullar]

China, the workshop of the world, will unquestionably become a world dominator.
Russia will most likely return to superpower status (in part due to Putin's incredibly skilful leadership).
Germany, with its ever-increasing clout over the European Union, will probably become a superpower as well.

And of course, the USA, bogged down by debt and the growing might of the tiger economies, will probably lose its superpower status to the previous three countries.

[Nomagi]

There won't be any main superpower, since the US will be/is in decline, but no great powers are ready to take its place. there will be a period of instability comparable to 1890-1945 and then brazil, china, india and possibly russia will be the main superpowers.

[New Chalcedon]

The definition of a superpower: a nation that is dominant in the following five areas:
Military might
Economic strength
Global influence
Plentiful resources
Large population

So, NSG, based on these factors, who will be the superpowers in 37 years time?
In my opinion, i think that the USA will still be regarded as one, although their power will begin to wane because of lack of resources (unless they do the murican thing and invade the nearest nation with oil)
I think that brazil an india will have developed by then and will be major powers on the world stage.
I think that china will definitely be one, unless they run out of resources (they are already trying to suck africa dry)
Finally, i speculate whether indonesia will have developed enough to be superpowerful. I think it is a definite possibility


Your thoughts?

USA - definitely will remain a Great Power ("superpower" won't fit the multipolar world that will exist), but won't dominate the international stage at will anymore. Definite and ongoing global influence; will probably still be regarded as the natural leader of the "Western" world, unless another Republican President continues to squander goodwill among their allies.

China - definitely a Great Power in 2050. Although it will be entering decline at that point, largely due to demographic issues (see: the One Child Policy). China's global reach will be more financial and economic than military, but it will maintain a military presence that can at least make it pricey for America to simply march in on its interests abroad.

India - definitely a Great Power in 2050, without China's demographic issues. Will have caught up to China , or nearly, and be in the process of overtaking China as the dominant power in Asia. Will have less focus on global reach, although India's the natural hegemon of the Indian Ocean littoral.

Brazil & Indonesia - regional powers in 2050. "Leading lights" of their respective regions (S. America and SE Asia), but without the global reach that characterises a Great Power or superpower.

Japan, Germany and Russia - second-tier regional powers, bouncing back from long declines about then (it's about then that the long demographic crunch these nations are facing should start to ease away). Still valued and valuable allies for Great Powers or regional powers to court.

South Africa - what? South Africa's going nowhere fast - it's too mired in corruption and racial/tribal disharmony to actually go anywhere much for some time to come. Egypt and Iran will start ramping up power levels before SA does.

[New American world]

I think the two interesting superpowers to watch will be USA and Germany. For America who has been a power since 1920s they are in their first real decline with dismal outlook now. However America has bounced back before and has cut spending and re stabilized its self before so they should not be taking out of contention. In Germany they are the only growing economy in Europe. Since they are still relatively new nation (since East and West combined) they may flat line but if they dont bail out greece france and spain they i think they can rise through become a real superpower

[New Chalcedon]

I think the two interesting superpowers to watch will be USA and Germany. For America who has been a power since 1920s they are in their first real decline with dismal outlook now. However America has bounced back before and has cut spending and re stabilized its self before so they should not be taking out of contention. In Germany they are the only growing economy in Europe. Since they are still relatively new nation (since East and West combined) they may flat line but if they dont bail out greece france and spain they i think they can rise through become a real superpower

Newsflash: it wasn't spending cuts that got America out of the Great Depression (indeed, when they happened in 1936, they created a mini-recession the next year). And Reagan didn't cut spending.

[Kaizakhstan]

India and China, definitely. Probably Indonesia, and Germany and Russia if they strengthen their economic ties to each other. America too, hopefully. Maybe Brazil. Maybe.

[Caninope]

South Africa, provided they can get their political problems sorted out. I can certainly see them starting towards stronger economic links with the rest of Africa, and they've certainly got the infrastructure to do it.

Indonesia, because of it's massive resource wealth and population base. It needs some serious effort to really bring it up to date, but I can see it joining the great powers in the East very shortly.

Brazil, because the problems it's having with corruption won't stick around forever. Brazil is already leading the way, and things like MERCOSOUR (or whatever it's called) as well as the fact that Brazil is starting to be an alternative to America for many nations in Latin America will only make this process quicker.

None of those nations you listed have any hopes of becoming superpowers in the next 37 years. Maybe great powers, but not superpowers. Most likely regional powers.

[Ixzara]

South Africa, provided they can get their political problems sorted out. I can certainly see them starting towards stronger economic links with the rest of Africa, and they've certainly got the infrastructure to do it.

Indonesia, because of it's massive resource wealth and population base. It needs some serious effort to really bring it up to date, but I can see it joining the great powers in the East very shortly.

Brazil, because the problems it's having with corruption won't stick around forever. Brazil is already leading the way, and things like MERCOSOUR (or whatever it's called) as well as the fact that Brazil is starting to be an alternative to America for many nations in Latin America will only make this process quicker.

None of those nations you listed have any hopes of becoming superpowers in the next 37 years. Maybe great powers, but not superpowers. Most likely regional powers.

Especially not Brazil. I think I read an article recently that they were going to be slashing military funding. I'll try to source that.

[Diopolis]

But by 2050 the NWO will have taken over, won't it?

[Grand Britannia]

But by 2050 the NWO will have taken over, won't it?

No, CERN would have taken over.

[Diopolis]

But by 2050 the NWO will have taken over, won't it?

No, CERN would have taken over.

Using the NWO.

[Ixzara]

But by 2050 the NWO will have taken over, won't it?

I'm so tired of hearing this NWO crap. If there really was a NWO with as much power as people say it has, they would have taken over the world already.

[Mushet]

Woodstock nation! The hippie armies will march conquering the earth to the tune of california uber alles

[Farnhamia]

But by 2050 the NWO will have taken over, won't it?

I'm so tired of hearing this NWO crap. If there really was a NWO with as much power as people say it has, they would have taken over the world already.

*looks up from her laptop and smiles*

[Grand Britannia]

No, CERN would have taken over.

Using the NWO.

Touche.

But by 2050 the NWO will have taken over, won't it?

I'm so tired of hearing this NWO crap. If there really was a NWO with as much power as people say it has, they would have taken over the world already.

This implies they haven't already

[Every Name is Taken on Here]

Germany and Britain.

[Oceasia]

1. China
2. India
3. USA
4. Indonesia
5. Brazil

[Ixzara]

Using the NWO.

Touche.

I'm so tired of hearing this NWO crap. If there really was a NWO with as much power as people say it has, they would have taken over the world already.

This implies they haven't already

I knew that fucking pop-up for fleshlight meant something! Damn you NWO!!!

[Altito Asmoro]

1. China
2. India
3. USA
4. Indonesia
5. Brazil

On what?

[EnragedMaldivians]

1. China
2. India
3. USA
4. Indonesia
5. Brazil

There can't be five super-powers. It completes negates the whole purpose of the term 'super-power'.

A superpower is a state that is so militarily preponderant that other states, even relatively powerful ones, cannot compete with it in terms of force projection and military capability. If for every "superpower" there are four more, then it's not a superpower.

[Xanixi]

At this rate?China. BUT if Japan put all its effort into weapons technologies they would quickly develop nuclear capabilities, have the best weapons in the world, and most likely utterly crush anyone in their way.

God dammit, Article 9.