Superpower

A superpower is a country that is one of the most powerful countries in the world. It is more powerful than a great power and less powerful than a hyperpower. Right now, only the United States is a superpower.^[1][2] However, China may become a superpower in the future. Some say it is already one.^[3][4][5][6] Others say that it will not become a superpower.^[7][8]

In the years following World War II, the United Nations was formed. The 5 countries that would later have nuclear bombs – those who would be able to start a nuclear war – were all given permanent seats on the Security Council. This means they are on the Security Council forever. They were also all given equal veto power over decisions in the Security Council. These five countries were: United States, United Kingdom, China, France, and the Soviet Union.

For most of the 1900s, the Soviet Union was a superpower. After the Soviet Union split into a lot of smaller countries in 1991, it was not a superpower anymore. Russia got most of the Soviet Union's nuclear weapons, and also its permanent seat in the Security Council. Some other countries also have nuclear weapons now, and can also start a nuclear war just as well, but they are not permanent members with veto power. The Republic of India, and Pakistan are a few countries like this. In order to be a superpower, a country must dominate economic, cultural, and military as well as diplomatic influence.

1. ↑ Kim Richard Nossal. Lonely Superpower or Unapologetic Hyperpower? Analyzing American Power in the post–Cold War Era. Biennial meeting, South African Political Studies Association, 29 June-2 July 1999. Archived from the original on 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
2. ↑ Herring, George C. (2008). From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations since 1776. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-974377-3.
3. ↑ Schuman, Michael (2020-10-05). "What Happens When China Leads the World". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
4. ↑ "China is not the only candidate for a 21st century superpower". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
5. ↑ "China's Inexorable Rise to Superpower Is History Repeating Itself". Bloomberg.com. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
6. ↑ "China most likely to become sole global superpower by mid-21st Century: Mitt Romney". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
7. ↑ Parton, Charles (2019-05-27). "Today's China will never be a superpower". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
8. ↑ "China Never Was A Superpower—And It Won't Be One Anytime Soon". Hoover Institution. Retrieved 2021-01-26.