Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2020 11:10 am
Everyone here ignores the fact that a country like Russia or China will never surpass the United States in terms of cultural influence. If cultural influence was ever passed, it would be by the ending of a dominant cultural power. I mean seriously, do you guys think that Europe, Latin America, etc. would be quick to latch on to Chinese or Russian movies and music???
And why do you guys think land-grab and territorial expansion is still important in the 21st century? If anything its a sign of weakness and simple inability to focus on your own populace.
Also simply look at the US compared to other countries, it's blessed by geography and can project its power almost everywhere by cultural, economic, and military means.
In terms of an actual superpower surpassing the US, if one does, I believe in terms of total power, they will never match how powerful the US was. The US is the most powerful economic, cultural, and military power. No country has ever reached such a high level. While maybe someday, if the world doesn't begin de-globalizing (which would likely be a trend started by the US), and China surpasses the US economically, it will still not be able to surpass the US' military and cultural power. For Russia, it may surpass the US military, but won't surpass it economically or culturally. Ultimately, every one of these powers will still have at least one weakness to the US. One thing about Russia and China is that the people don't control the countries actions. One of the the US' weaknesses is also what empowers it; its populace. The populace drives innovation, economic, social, and political progress, and essentially controls what the US does, good or bad. Ultimately, the only way the US will leave the global stage is if it chooses to, and is pulled back from within, by its populace (remember Vietnam?). Luckily, the United States has the luxury of the choice (as well as simply being to powerful and stable to become un-important).
And why do you guys think land-grab and territorial expansion is still important in the 21st century? If anything its a sign of weakness and simple inability to focus on your own populace.
Also simply look at the US compared to other countries, it's blessed by geography and can project its power almost everywhere by cultural, economic, and military means.
In terms of an actual superpower surpassing the US, if one does, I believe in terms of total power, they will never match how powerful the US was. The US is the most powerful economic, cultural, and military power. No country has ever reached such a high level. While maybe someday, if the world doesn't begin de-globalizing (which would likely be a trend started by the US), and China surpasses the US economically, it will still not be able to surpass the US' military and cultural power. For Russia, it may surpass the US military, but won't surpass it economically or culturally. Ultimately, every one of these powers will still have at least one weakness to the US. One thing about Russia and China is that the people don't control the countries actions. One of the the US' weaknesses is also what empowers it; its populace. The populace drives innovation, economic, social, and political progress, and essentially controls what the US does, good or bad. Ultimately, the only way the US will leave the global stage is if it chooses to, and is pulled back from within, by its populace (remember Vietnam?). Luckily, the United States has the luxury of the choice (as well as simply being to powerful and stable to become un-important).