Who are the world superpowers?

[Klorgia1]

The title is exactly the debate: Who are the worlds superpowers.

For the purposes of this discussion, a superpower is a country or organization with high amounts of influence on the world stage, specifically far above the average of their contemporaries.

Note that ideas and those individuals who spread them are intensely powerful, but I think belong in a topic of their own.

My opinion:

Overall, I would say that all nations recognized with votes in the UN (expect the absolute smallest) are in some way superpowers. They have a major impact on the globe and how politics proceeds. But as far as countries and organizations are concerned which even go beyond this somewhat small club:

1. National superpowers (self-explanatory): US at the very top, China, Japan, Germany, Russia, Etc. Etc.

2.Extra-national superpowers (Organizations who's influence is built on bringing nations together. Note that I don't say international because I'm a rebel or something): UN and then EU. There are others, of course, but these are the kings and the first that come to mind.

3. Companies: Alphabet Inc. (Owner of google) and Apple, (Sue me).

Note: For these purposes, state owned companies do not count, as they are more a direct extension of a governments influence.

Notex2: They're influence definitely helps makes the US influential, in my opinion anyway.

Listing them together:

US, China (far weaker), UN, Japan, Germany, Russia, EU, Alphabet inc. and Apple.

This is just what I came up with in ~20 minutes, so It might change quite a bit in the next day or so.

So, by now I've typed quite enough, whats your opinion?

[Giovenith]

It's a close tie between Sealand and Best Korea.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

1. USA
2. That's it.

[Sapientia Et Bellum]

"Superpower is a term used to describe a state with a dominant position, which is characterised by its extensive ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale. This is done through the combined-means of economic, military, technological and cultural strength, as well as diplomatic and soft power influence."

I would argue that America is the only true superpower... both Russia and China are limited in their ability to influence the entire globe... I would consider them regional powers that influence Europe and Asia the most with little effect in Africa, North America, South America, and Western Europe....

[Webus]

"Superpower is a term used to describe a state with a dominant position, which is characterised by its extensive ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale. This is done through the combined-means of economic, military, technological and cultural strength, as well as diplomatic and soft power influence."

I would argue that America is the only true superpower... both Russia and China are limited in their ability to influence the entire globe... I would consider them regional powers that influence Europe and Asia the most with little effect in Africa, North America, South America, and Western Europe....

China actually has a lot of influence in latin America and Africa. The trading relationship with the us and Europe I would argue is a lot of influence as well.

[Four Truths]

India, of course.

[Brulafi]

Brazil by 2020 baby.

[Bluelight-R006]

1500s Europe
1600s European Colonists
1700s The French
1800s The British
1900s The United States
2000s China
2100s India(?)

Starting with the 1800s, The British was the world’s dominant superpower, having colonies all over the world and still growing then. However, their position was taken in the 1900s by the United States, which had more influence, even when the British had its land peak in 1921.

European kingdoms and empires met its doom in the 1950s-60s when their African colonies began to separate and become independent. Africa was like Europe’s colony altogether, so with its independence, European kingdoms lost a huge bunch of land.

In recent years, the 2000s saw the uprising influence of China and the decreasing of the United States. For example, their GDP recently overtook the United States. It’s safe to say despite of the United States’ power, China has been a trending topic in recent years.

The 2100s will most likely see the world’s new superpower, India, with its new first place in population at 1.6-1.7 billion. This increase Indian influence and workforce, and so it’s safe to say India will become the superpower of the next century.

[UniversalCommons]

For soft power ability to influence culture and economics It is the United States followed by Germany, then the UK, then India. Germany projects an enormous amount of economic clout, it is not military power though. Luckily, there has not been a mobilization for World War III. I think India if it went to war footing could outproduce China in the amount of arms manufactured. It would take several years, but it would happen. Bad conditions in Pakistan and Afghanistan could lead to this.

Germany is producing the best quality manufactured goods in the world right now.

Cultural soft power is changing. China is having a lot of influence in Africa.

The problem is one of rearmament-- do we want Germany to rearm and pull in the European community. It is starting to recruit soldiers from all across Europe. Effective cooperation between France and Germany from the start would change the balance of power. The arms would be better quality.

Russia is producing unmatched arms, they have gone ahead and done what the United States was afraid to do with Project Pluto, hypersonic nuclear missiles and super long range nuclear drone torpedos. They are making the things which would lead to no one winning. The balance of power changes when China and Russia become stronger allies. The Middle East is demonstrating that Russian arms may be better in some ways than US arms.

There is no one superpower. There are alliances.

It is very hard to judge this, because there is not a push for a major international war except for in the middle east which is not all the possible players.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China is the worlds largest bank, followed by China Construction Bank. China basically has the most powerful banks in the world right now. They are more of an economic power than a military power.
JP Morgan Chase
Apple

All banks are extension of the state. They government prints the money based on the debt which a bank needs to create wealth. Money is a state instrument. Stocks, bonds, real estate are real things which a person can own. Money is increasingly symbolic, especially electronic transactions.

[Internationalist Bastard]

Super speed , super strength, lava powers

[Western Vale Confederacy]

Malawi, obviously.

The Maldives are a close second though.

[San Carlos Islands]

The U.S. is the only world superpower.

[Internationalist Bastard]

The U.S. is the only world superpower.

Give it time

[San Carlos Islands]

The U.S. is the only world superpower.

Give it time

I agree with that statement. The Nation is on the wrong path, and it needs to be radically redirected to avoid a collapse.

[Stellar Colonies]

Insert obligatory Emu joke here

In regards to culture, economic clout, and military strength, probably the US at present.

Maybe corporations instead.

[Major-Tom]

Hackneyed jokes notwithstanding, it's gotta be the US. Undoubtedly, we are the sole "superpower" just by definition. Our economic, political, cultural, and military clout is the biggest in the world.

That said, there are several countries that act as something near superpowers, I don't know what the term is (not sure it's officially defined), but countries like China, India, Germany, hell, even Japan and the UK, wield such a great and powerful influence that can't be understated. With countries like these, supranational organizations like the EU, NATO, etc, it's clear we're moving quickly towards a more multipolar world, but the hegemonic still belongs to the USA, for better and for worse.

[Shofercia]

The World has one Superpower - the US.

The World has several Great Powers, including China, Russia, India, France, etc.

Companies, such as Apple and Google, are not even considered Great Powers. They're more powerful than most countries, but so is Iran.

The EU can barely hold itself together. SCO's power has been growing with the addition of India and Pakistan, but I still wouldn't call them a Great Power, since China's Power Projection is greater than the SCO's. The AU could be interesting.

[The Frozen Forest]

There is only one world Superpower, The United States of America.

[Myrensis]

We all dance on Andorra's strings.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

There is no one superpower. There are alliances.

I think this makes the most sense to me. It makes more sense to me to look at the countries who share intelligence, like the Five Eyes, as a single bloc.

[The Blaatschapen]

Rico Verhoeven. That guy is

[Adelsin]

The United States is still the World's foremost power. It is the only true global power.
Largest Military with the largest budget
Largest sovereign economy. Yes I'm discounting the EU in this case
Able to project multiple aircraft carriers at a whim
They still hold more foreign bases than the rest of the world combined so they have another path toward global projection of power.

Signs show they're on the decline. I see it as a slight distribution of power. China, India and the EU are coming up the ranks and slowly taking on more influence on the global stage. Slowly. Thought I doubt either of them will become super powers.

China's limited by it's geography and innovation. They replicate rather than innovate. They lack the ability to project force beyond Asia Pacific.

The EU is still in formation. Right now they're a loose collection of nations. They have lonng way to go before they become a stronger union. They don't have a unified military. It's in the talks but it'd be decades before they become anything major.

India.... india is a regional power at best. Much of their military tech... Russia.... Geographically limited.... financially limited.... they have too many issues internally atm as well.

Lastly Russia..... Russia is Russia.... they're not going back to the Soviet Union. Different times. China to the South of Siberia.... a unified EU to the west..... US presence in the Middle East. They are surrounded. They're in financial strife.... sure they're playing hacker but that can only go so far.

That leaves the US.

If I had to bank on any alternative.... give the EU 50 years. If the US becomes a menace on the World stage, the EU will be forced to take a stand and balance out power.

50 years tops.

[Albydia]

1. National superpowers (self-explanatory): United States, China. Maybe United Kingdom, France, and Russia.

2.Extra-national superpowers (Organizations who's influence is built on bringing nations together. Note that I don't say international because I'm a rebel or something): United Nations, European Union, NATO, Commonwealth of Nations

3. Companies: Windows, BP, Exxon


Listing them together:

US, China, NATO, UN, EU, United Kingdom, France, Windows, Exxon, Russia, Commonwealth of Nations, BP.

[Myrkvifiord]

Countries: US is for sure at the top. Others include Russia, China, UK, France, Japan, Germany. (maybe North Korea, but they exert dominance mostly only with nukes and a cold stare, so maybe not.)

Organizations: UN, EU, NATO are the main ones. (maybe OPEC)

Companies: No one right now, but the closest to a corporate superpower on par with country-level dominance is Amazon, followed by Google. (These two set themselves apart since they are developing transportation. Amazon has drones they are developing, and Google (well, Alphabet) has Waymo. I know Apple is developing self-driving cars, but it's not nearly as far along as we know. (Apple's program is in secret, though. There is probably a lot we don't know about that program in particular.)) Oil companies are next, ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell are probably at the top.

Order: US, Russia, China, UN, EU, UK, NATO, France, Japan, Germany, OPEC, Amazon, Google, Apple, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell.

[The New California Republic]

There is only one world Superpower, The United States of America Chuck Norris.

Fixed that for you.