Super_Nations

Potential Superpower A potential superpower is a state that is speculated to be, or to be in the process of becoming, a superpower at some point in the21st century. Presently, it is widely considered that only the United States currently fulfills the criteria to be considered asuperpower.[3][4] States most commonly mentioned as being potential superpowers are Brazil,[5][6][7] China,[8] the European Union,[9] India and Russia,[10][11] based on a variety of factors. However, the record of such predictions has not been perfect. For example, in the 1980s, many political and economic analysts predicted that Japan would eventually accede to superpower status, due to its large population, huge gross domestic productand high economic growth at that time.[12][13] |Contents | | [hide] | |1 Brazil | |2 China | |3 European Union | |4 India | |5 Russia | |6 See also | |7 References | [edit]Brazil |Federative Republic of Brazil | |[pic] | |[pic] | The Federative Republic of Brazil is considered by a number of analysts and academics a potential superpower of the 21st Century.[5][6][7] In a lecture entitled Brazil as an Emerging World Power,[14] presented at the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, Leslie Elliot Armijo has said that "Brazil will soon rise as Latin America’s first superpower". Armijo states that "Brazil keeps solidifying itself as leader of its region by launching a series of integration projects", adding also that "as an international actor, Brazil has also taken a larger share of world politics by incrementing its already strong presence in economic initiatives, such as theInternational Finance Facility and the G20", asserting that "Brazil’s rising prominence derives from its solid democratic rule and its strong economy" and concluding that "Soon, we’ll have two superpowers in the Western Hemisphere"[5][15] Marek Swierczynski, a journalist and defense analyst, in his Atlantic Community article[16] calls Brazil the "potential superpower of the South" and argues that it "may be on its way out of the western camp and can speed up the creation of the world’s new order". Elizabeth Reavey, a research associate from theCouncil on Hemispheric Affairs, claims in the title of her article that While the US Looks Eastward Brazil Is Emerging as a Nuclear Superpower[6]. Describing the importance of the ongoing development of nuclear technology in the country, she calls Brazil an emerging superpower, with a "potential to have a China-like, booming economy, increased nuclear capabilities, a growing self-confidence in its own power and an ability to make its own way". Brazil is often called an economic superpower,[17][18] either present[19] or future, and many experts and journalists compare Brazil with the other potential superpowers of BRIC group. Jonathan Power from Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research claims in his article Brazil is becoming an economic and political superpower that "Brazil has a head start on India and China", saying that it has been positively developing for over 100 years and adding that "between 1960 and 1980 Brazil doubled its per capita income".[7] Power also speculates that Brazil "has a good chance of emerging as the world’s first economic superpower without nuclear weapons". There are, however, numerous obstacles to Brazil reaching superpower status. As Nobel Prize- winning economist Paul Krugman puts it, that while Brazil's economy is doing well, “It’s not the same as to say it will become the economic superpower [anytime soon].”[20] Similarily, energy analyst Mark Burger writes that Brazil, in general, will improve its energy situation, but not to the point of being a "superpower" (orenergy superpower)[21]. [edit]China See also: Chinese Century |People's Republic of China | |[pic] | |[pic] | The People's Republic of China receives continual coverage in the popular press of its potential superpower status,[22] and has been identified as a rising or emerging economic and military superpower by academics and other experts.[23][24][25][26] Barry Buzan asserts that "China certainly presents the most promising all-round profile" of a potential superpower.[27] Buzan claims that "China is currently the most fashionable potential superpower and the one whose degree of alienation from the dominant international society makes it the most obvious political challenger." However, he notes this challenge is constrained by the major challenges of development and by the fact that its rise could trigger a counter coalition of states in Asia. Shujie Yao of Nottingham University has said that the London G-20 Summit helped to "further cement [China's] position as the world's emerging superpower by allowing it to stake out a clear leading role". He notes that "China will overtake the United States to become the world's largest economy by 2038 if current growth rates continue," and that China's nominal GDP will likely overtake that of Japan by 2009 or 2010. He argues that the credit crisis has provided China a rare chance to secure superpower status.[28] Parag Khanna states that by making massive trade and investment deals with Latin America and Africa, China has established its presence as a superpower along with the European Union and the United States. China's rise is demonstrated by its ballooning share of trade in its gross domestic product. He believes that China's consultative style [vague] has allowed it to develop political and economic ties with many countries including those viewed as rogue states by the United States. He states that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization founded with Russia and the Central Asian countries may eventually be the "NATO of the East".[29] Geoffrey Murphay's China: The Next Superpower argues that while the potential for China is high, this is fairly perceived only by looking at the risks and obstacles China faces in managing its population and resources. The political situation in China may become too fragile to survive into superpower status according to Susan Shirk in China: Fragile Superpower.[30] Other factors that could constrain China's ability to become a superpower in the future include: limited supplies of energy and raw materials, questions over its innovation capability, inequality and corruption, and risks to social stability and the environment. Minxin Pei does not believe that China is a superpower or that it will be one anytime soon arguing that it faces daunting political and economic challenges.[31] His analysis of China as a great power also fits within the context of his overall skepticism of the rise of Asia [32] Amy Chua states that whether a country has enough pull to bring immigrants is an important quality for a superpower. She also writes that China lacks the pull to bring scientists, thinkers, and innovators from other countries as immigrants. However, she believes that China has made up for this with its own diaspora, saying that size and resources for them are unparalleled.[33] [edit]European Union |European Union | |[pic] | |[pic] | The European Union (EU) has been called an emerging superpower by academics.[9][34] Many scholars and academics like T.R. Reid,[35] Andrew Reding,[36], Andrew Moravcsik,[37] Mark Leonard,[38] Jeremy Rifkin,[39] John McCormick,[40] and some politicians like Romano Prodi[41] and Tony Blair[42][43] either believe that the EU is, or will become, a superpower in the 21st century. Mark Leonard cites several factors: the EU's large population, large economy (the EU has the largest economy in the world; the economy of the EU is slightly larger than that of the U.S. in terms of GDP purchasing (PPP) and ~24% larger in terms of nominal GDP, as of 2008 [44]), low inflation rates, the unpopularity and perceived failure of US foreign policy in recent years, and certain EU members states' high quality of life (when measured in terms such as hours worked per week, health care, social services).[45] John McCormick believes that the EU has already achieved superpower status, based on the size and global reach of its economy and on its global political influence. He argues that the nature of power has changed since the Cold War-driven definition of superpower was developed, and that military power is no longer essential to great power; he argues that control of the means of production is more important than control of the means of destruction, and contrasts the threatening hard power of the United States with the opportunities offered by the soft power wielded by the European Union.[46] Parag Khanna believes that the EU, together with China, has already achieved superpower status and rivals the US for influence around the world.[47][48] He also mentions the large economy of the EU, that European technologies more and more set the global standards and that European countries give the most development assistance. He agrees with McCormick that the EU does not need a common army to be a superpower. The EU uses intelligence and the police to apprehend radical Islamists, social policy to try to integrate restive Muslim populations and economic strength to incorporate the former Soviet Union and gradually subdue Russia.[47] Khanna also writes that South America, East Asia, and other regions prefer to emulate the "European Dream" than the American variant.[49] This could possibly be seen in the South American Union and theAfrican Union. Notably, the EU as a whole is among the most culturally diverse "entities" on the planet[50], with some of the world's largest and most influential languages being official within its borders [51]. Andrew Reding also takes the future EU enlargement into account. An eventual future accession of the rest of Europe would not only boost the economy of the EU, but it would also increase the EU's population to a level almost equal to that of India and China. The EU is qualitatively different from India and China since it is enormously more prosperous and technologically advanced.[36] Turkish Prime MinisterRecep Tayyip Erdogan told the Journal of Turkish Weekly in 2005 that: "In 10 or 15 years, the EU will be a place where civilizations meet. It will be a superpower with the inclusion of Turkey." [52] Robert J. Guttman remarks that the very definition of the term superpower has changed and that in the new 21st century, it does not only refer to states with military power, but also to groups such as the European Union, which has strong market economics, young, highly educated workers who are savvy in high technology, and a global vision.[53] Friis Arne Petersen, the Danish ambassador to the U.S. has expressed similar views. He conceded that the EU is a “special kind of superpower,” one that has yet to establish a unified military force that exerts itself even close to the same level as many of its individual members.[54] A study of 57,000 people across 52 countries by the European Council on Foreign Relations indicates that the EU is the most "popular" superpower in that people across the world like to see the European Union become more influential. The study found that the EU was "unique among the four big powers (China, the EU, Russia and the United States) in that no one wants to balance its rise." It concluded that 35 percent of people in the world want the 27-member bloc to grow in power.[55] Britons were revealed to be the most ambivalent towards the EU's growing influence with a positive balance of just eight per cent.[56] Additionally, it is argued by commentators that full political integration is not required for the European Union to wield international influence: that its apparent weaknesses constitute its real strengths (as of its low profile diplomacy and the emphasis on the rule of law)[46] and that the EU represents a new and potentially more successful type of international actor than traditional ones;[57] however, it is uncertain if the effectiveness of such an influence would be equal to that of a politically integrated superpower such as the United States.[58] Barry Buzan notes that the EU's potential superpower status depends on its "stateness". It is unclear though how much state-like quality is needed for the EU to be described as a superpower. Buzan states that the EU is likely to remain a potential superpower for a long time because although it has material wealth, its "political weakness and its erratic and difficult course of internal political development, particularly as regards a common foreign and defence policy" constrains it from being a superpower.[27] Alexander Stubb, the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, has said that he thinks the EU is and is not a superpower. While the EU is a superpower in the sense that it is the largest political union, single market and aid donor in the world, it is not a superpower in the defense or foreign policy spheres. Just like Barry Buzan, Alexander Stubb thinks that the most major factor constraining the EU’s rise to superpower status is its lack of statehood in the international system, other factors are its lack of internal drive to project power worldwide, and continued preference for the sovereign nation-state amongst some Europeans. To counter-balance these he urged the EU leaders to approve and ratify the Lisbon Treaty (which they did in 2009), create an EU foreign ministry (EEAS, led by High Representative Catherine Ashton, will be finished in 2012) , develop a common EU defense, hold one collective seat at the UN Security Council and G8, and address what he described as the “sour mood” toward the EU prevalent in some European countries today.[59] However, some politicians and writers do not believe that the EU will achieve superpower status. "The EU is not and never will be a superpower" according to the former UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband.[60] Lacking a unified foreign policy and with an inability to project military power worldwide, the EU lacks "the substance of superpowers," who by definition have "first of all military reach [and] possess the capacity to arrive quickly anywhere with troops that can impose their government's will." [61]. EU parliamentarian Ilka Schroeder argues that conflicts such as the Israeli-Palestinian dispute see close EU involvement largely to compensate for European inability to project military power internationally.[62] The Economist's Robert Lane Greene notes that the lack of a strong European military only exasperates the lack of unified EU foreign policy and discounts any EU arguments towards superpower status, noting especially that the EU's creation of a global response force rivaling the superpower's (America) is "unthinkable."[63] The biggest barrier to European superpowerdom is that European elites refuse to bring their postmodern fantasies about the illegitimacy of military "hard power" into line with the way the rest of the world interprets reality" according to Soren Kern of Strategic Studies Group.[64] Britain's Michael Howard has warned against the "worry" that many Europeans are pushing for greater EU integration to counter-balance the United States,[65] while Europe's total reliance on soft (non-military) power is in part because of its lack of a "shared identity." [66] While to some the European Union should be a "model power" unafraid of using military force and backing free trade, its military shortcomings argue against superpower status.[67] [edit]India |Republic of India | |[pic] | |[pic] | Several media publications and academics have discussed India's potential of becoming a great power or eventually a superpower.[68][69] Daniel Lak describes India as the underdog, facing more challenges than advantages, yet it is approaching superpower status. He also mentions that despite the hardships of significant poverty, and social inequality, India is overcoming all of this.[70] Robyn Meredith claims that both India and China will be superpowers. However, she points out that China is decades ahead of India, and that the average Chinese person is better off than the average Indian person.[71] Amy Chua also adds to this, stating that while India's potential for superpower is great, it still faces many problems such as "pervasive rural poverty, disease-filled urban slums, entrenched corruption, and egregious maternal mortality rates just to name a few". Also like China, India lacks the "pull" for immigrants, and Indians still continue to emigrate in large numbers. However, she notes that India has made tremendous strides to fix this, stating that some of India's achievements, such as working to dismantle the centuries old caste system and maintaining the world's largest diverse democracy is historically unprecedented.[33] Barry Buzan notes that despite its nuclear test, India "is not talked about or treated as a potential superpower".[27] Parag Khanna believes that India is not, and will not become a superpower for the foreseeable future, lagging decades behind China in both development and strategic appetite.[72] Instead, he believes India will be a key swing state along with Russia.[73] He says that India is "big but not important," has a highly successful professional class, whilehundreds of millions of its citizens still live in extreme poverty. It is "almost completely third world".[74] He also writes that it matters that China borders a dozen more countries than India and is not hemmed in by a vast ocean and the world's tallest mountains. China has a loyal diaspora twice the size of India's and enjoys a head start in Asian and African marketplaces.[75] [edit]Russia |Russian Federation | |[pic] | |[pic] | The Russian Federation has been suggested by some as a potential candidate for resuming superpower status in the 21st century.[10][11]. According to economist Steven Rosefielde of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Russia intends to "reemerge as a full-fledged superpower," and "contrary to conventional wisdom, this goal is easily within the Kremlin's grasp, but the cost to the Russian people and global security would be immense."[76]Rosefielde further argues that Russia "has an intact military-industrial complex...and the mineral wealth to reactivate its dormant structurally militarized potential," and that "supply-side constraints don't preclude a return to prodigal superpowerdom"[76][77]. Military analyst Alexander Golts of The St. Petersburg Times argues that Putin's confrontations with the U.S. on nuclear issues are in pursuit of regaining superpower status for Russia.[78] It has been argued that Russia's foreign policy toward bordering countries is designed with the ultimate goal of regaining superpower status.[79] Mike Ritchie of industry analysts Energy Intelligence says "Russia was always a superpower that used its energy to win friends and influence among its former Soviet satellites. Nothing has really changed much. They are back in the same game, winning friends and influencing people and using their power to do so."[80] According to Francis Matthew, Editor at Large of the Gulfnews, facts constraining Russia's rise to superpower-status, includes a lack of important allies, relatively small and failing economy and, again, a relatively small, and shrinking, population. He also claims that if Russia wants to return to playing a strong international role, it will need to go through a round of profound internal reform; "Without the necessary economic transparency that an economy needs today to flourish, Russia will remain in trouble. The government might be rescued for a while by a rise in the oil price, but that is no substitute for long-term development."[81]