The next superpower will be?

**Darsh** · July 18, 2008, 02:34 AM

"Due to their large populations, growing military strength, and economic potential and influence in international affairs, China, the European Union, India, and Russia are among the powers which are most often cited as having the ability to influence future world politics and reach the status of superpower in the 21st century. While some believe one (or more) of these countries will replace the United States as a superpower, others believe they will rise to rival, but not replace, the United States."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:P...uperpowers.png

what do you think?

**PurpleScotch** · July 18, 2008, 03:06 AM

China. It has all it needs to be the next superpower. Russia is a good candidate too, and could also become the next superpower.

**Richard** · July 18, 2008, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by killerxguy

China. It has all it needs to be the next superpower. Russia is a good candidate too, and could also become the next superpower.

Russia has already been one and is now in a steady state of population decline (unless that's a good thing), but they've already had their turn anyway.

**Starlightman** · July 18, 2008, 03:31 AM

The awake of a dragon.......but beware the bite of the bear......

**Darsh** · July 18, 2008, 03:40 AM

Originally Posted by Starlightman

The awake of a dragon.......but beware the bite of the bear......

Well we will build a big zoo for them.

**Starlightman** · July 18, 2008, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by Darsh

Well we will build a big zoo for them.

yes...

....for them or for the others??? :hmmm:

....and feeding them with something....(like us)???

**Jango** · July 18, 2008, 03:34 AM

China, then EU if the really become "United"

**jankren** · July 18, 2008, 04:09 AM

Definitely China.

**invictus** · July 18, 2008, 05:06 AM

What no Mexico!?!?!?! Im shocked, just shocked. -Leon
P.S.
The motherland fears no one!

**roy34543** · July 18, 2008, 05:12 AM

China .. Definatly.
Anyone mind editing the tags so we get all the countries in?

**Tankfriend** · July 18, 2008, 06:42 AM

My first guess would be China as well - they got huge amounts of manpower and ressources and they obviously develop at a crazy rate. They are more or less bound to catch up to the US sooner or later and I'd say it'll be sooner.

Second guess would be a "truly united" European Union though I can't really imagine something like that is going to happen in the near future if one looks at the difficulties of even passing a common Constitution for the EU.
Without a "unification" the EU already presents a rather heavy weight but they're still having disputes and non-unified decisions about political affairs.

**jankren** · July 18, 2008, 07:20 AM

If China became superpower I expect the center of civilization would shift to East Asia. North America, the Middle East and Europe already got their shares now its our turn. He he he ...

**PurpleScotch** · July 18, 2008, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by jankren

If China became superpower I expect the center of civilization would shift to East Asia. North America, the Middle East and Europe already got their shares now its our turn. He he he ...

I wouldn't mind, I love East Asian culture

. China, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan (SUSHI!!)...and so many others are great countries, with everything from natural beauty to a great and hardworking people.

**Axeman** · July 18, 2008, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by killerxguy

I wouldn't mind, I love East Asian culture

. China, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan (WOMEN) and so many others are great countries, with everything from natural beauty to a great and hardworking people.

Fixed!

**King Edward III** · July 18, 2008, 07:28 AM

England.

**Syron** · July 18, 2008, 08:01 AM

China has the greatest potential of the lot.

However, i think there are vast problems that are building for it such as the gap between the cities and rural areas that personally i think will ultimately lead to the collapse of China as we know it. There is a reason the Chinese government is

scared of regions like Tibet and the Northwestern provinces gaining independance, it would catalyse collapse.

India.....i don't think has any chance of being a true superpower anytime soon. There is simply too much infrastructurally to do and to enforce development will only lead to instability. We are already seeing leftist groups in the Northeast take advantage of that.

Russia again has vast endemic problems. While there may be plenty of rich oil oligarchs the situation in most of Russia is frankly depressing given my visit there a couple of years ago. A lot needs to change and frankly i don't see much change happening. I was in a city not THAT far outside of Moscow and the sheer lack of change from communist economics was quite stark.

The EU? probably the least likely IMO. It's economic clout is a relic and i think it's political clout will be non-existant.

Just my two pennies.

**Caelius** · July 18, 2008, 10:24 AM

Other.

None.

The EU is too divided and will more or less remain the same as it is now. Which of course assumes that a major internal crisis in the future doesn't lead to its collapse and/or replacement.

Russia is dying, and despite the recent renewed vigor they've displayed, their economic and political influence isn't much greater than France's (or the other big three European powers)

China has too many bridges to cross, can't sustain its growth, and in all likelihood burn itself out if the politicians in Beijing get in over their heads with delusions of trying to become a superpower. They need to focus on domestic consolidation try sorting out some of the many issues that are going to start becoming major problems over the next decade or so.

India is on a good track, but like the EU are too divided domestically and still need to keep up their level of development for awhile longer than China has. I wouldn't expect them to become a superpower anytime this century honestly. Perhaps at some point in the last generation or so, but that'd be pushing it.