The Worlds Top 10 Superpowers in 2012
Discussion
I got to thinking what countries are the top 5 superpowers in order as of 2012. I found a list from Google below but I am not sure I agree.
I would have thought it 1. America 2. United Kingdom 3. China 4. Russia 5. Germany
But it seems I am wrong, although I admit I do not know how legit this list I found is, here it is:
(1) United States Of America: steady political system, advanced military, largest economy, strong internal security, and law & order. Influences on the world include: WTO, NATO, UN, and IMF
(2) China: fastest major growing economy, largest work force, and a good military. Influences on the world: WTO, UN, and IMF
(3) Russia: strong military, regional, political influence and one of the largest economies. Influence in the region
(4) India: one of the fastest growing major economies, a good military with nuclear weapons & good space technology, skilled labor force, a strong democratic political system, and good foreign relations (except Pakistan). Influences on the world: WTO
(5) France: healthy economy, good military with nuclear power.
(6) Germany: healthy economy, good political system, and advanced technology.
(7) United Kingdom: an overall healthy economy, good military, and political ties with the US
(8) Japan & Israel: Japan: second largest economy and good space technology. Israel: advanced technology, strong military nuclear power (maybe), friend of the NATO, US, and an influence in US politics.
(9) Brazil: good growth economy, growing domestic market, and ok military.
(10) Saudi Arabia: a fair amount of oil money, influence in the Muslim world, and heavy spending in military.
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_top_ten_sup...
I must say I am not sure how the UK is ranked #7, especially having France as #5 and India as number 4. But perhaps this list is taking into account economic strength and forecast as opposed to military prowess which most people I think take more into consideration when debating superpowers amongst everyday people like you and I.
What says you?
I would have thought it 1. America 2. United Kingdom 3. China 4. Russia 5. Germany
But it seems I am wrong, although I admit I do not know how legit this list I found is, here it is:
(1) United States Of America: steady political system, advanced military, largest economy, strong internal security, and law & order. Influences on the world include: WTO, NATO, UN, and IMF
(2) China: fastest major growing economy, largest work force, and a good military. Influences on the world: WTO, UN, and IMF
(3) Russia: strong military, regional, political influence and one of the largest economies. Influence in the region
(4) India: one of the fastest growing major economies, a good military with nuclear weapons & good space technology, skilled labor force, a strong democratic political system, and good foreign relations (except Pakistan). Influences on the world: WTO
(5) France: healthy economy, good military with nuclear power.
(6) Germany: healthy economy, good political system, and advanced technology.
(7) United Kingdom: an overall healthy economy, good military, and political ties with the US
(8) Japan & Israel: Japan: second largest economy and good space technology. Israel: advanced technology, strong military nuclear power (maybe), friend of the NATO, US, and an influence in US politics.
(9) Brazil: good growth economy, growing domestic market, and ok military.
(10) Saudi Arabia: a fair amount of oil money, influence in the Muslim world, and heavy spending in military.
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_top_ten_sup...
I must say I am not sure how the UK is ranked #7, especially having France as #5 and India as number 4. But perhaps this list is taking into account economic strength and forecast as opposed to military prowess which most people I think take more into consideration when debating superpowers amongst everyday people like you and I.
What says you?
You thought the UK was 2nd? What century do you live in?
The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
Edit:
1 United States 15,094,025
2 China 7,298,147
3 Japan 5,869,471
4 Germany 3,577,031
5 France 2,776,324
6 Brazil 2,492,908
7 United Kingdom 2,417,570
We're 7th (Wiki GDP)
The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
Edit:
1 United States 15,094,025
2 China 7,298,147
3 Japan 5,869,471
4 Germany 3,577,031
5 France 2,776,324
6 Brazil 2,492,908
7 United Kingdom 2,417,570
We're 7th (Wiki GDP)
Edited by GroundEffect on Tuesday 22 May 19:08
GroundEffect said:
You thought the UK was 2nd? What century do you live in?
The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
But how so? I mean if it is based more on economic strength and not all military than surely the US wouldnt be number 1 either. But instead a country with a more balanced and stable economy. The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
Edited to see Ground Eddects posting of the countries GDP. Makes sense when pout that way I suppose.
Edited by ESOG on Tuesday 22 May 19:12
ESOG said:
GroundEffect said:
You thought the UK was 2nd? What century do you live in?
The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
But how so? I mean if it is based more on economic strength and not all military than surely the US wouldnt be number 1 either. But instead a country with a more balanced and stable economy. The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
If you want to do it wealth/population (i.e. how much each person in the country 'owns' of that wealth):
1 Qatar 102,943 2011
2 Luxembourg 80,119 2011
3 Singapore 59,711 2011
4 Norway 53,471 2011
5 Brunei 49,384 2011
6 United States 48,387 2011
7 United Arab Emirates 48,158 2011
8 Switzerland 43,370 2011
9 Netherlands 42,183 2011
10 Austria 41,822 2011
11 Kuwait 41,691 2011
12 Canada 40,541 2011
13 Sweden 40,394 2011
14 Australia 40,234 2011
15 Ireland 39,639 2011
16 Iceland 38,061 2011
17 Germany 37,897 2011
18 Belgium 37,737 2011
19 Taiwan 37,720 2011
20 Denmark 37,152 2011
21 Finland 36,236 2011
22 United Kingdom 36,090 2011
We're 22nd.
GroundEffect said:
It's based on the total wealth of the nation. The US is by FAR the richest nation on earth.
If you want to do it wealth/population (i.e. how much each person in the country 'owns' of that wealth):
1 Qatar 102,943 2011
2 Luxembourg 80,119 2011
3 Singapore 59,711 2011
4 Norway 53,471 2011
5 Brunei 49,384 2011
6 United States 48,387 2011
7 United Arab Emirates 48,158 2011
8 Switzerland 43,370 2011
9 Netherlands 42,183 2011
10 Austria 41,822 2011
11 Kuwait 41,691 2011
12 Canada 40,541 2011
13 Sweden 40,394 2011
14 Australia 40,234 2011
15 Ireland 39,639 2011
16 Iceland 38,061 2011
17 Germany 37,897 2011
18 Belgium 37,737 2011
19 Taiwan 37,720 2011
20 Denmark 37,152 2011
21 Finland 36,236 2011
22 United Kingdom 36,090 2011
We're 22nd.
22nd! Damn. Does the UK have alot of out sourcing like the US does. I only ask since you mentioned call centers etcIf you want to do it wealth/population (i.e. how much each person in the country 'owns' of that wealth):
1 Qatar 102,943 2011
2 Luxembourg 80,119 2011
3 Singapore 59,711 2011
4 Norway 53,471 2011
5 Brunei 49,384 2011
6 United States 48,387 2011
7 United Arab Emirates 48,158 2011
8 Switzerland 43,370 2011
9 Netherlands 42,183 2011
10 Austria 41,822 2011
11 Kuwait 41,691 2011
12 Canada 40,541 2011
13 Sweden 40,394 2011
14 Australia 40,234 2011
15 Ireland 39,639 2011
16 Iceland 38,061 2011
17 Germany 37,897 2011
18 Belgium 37,737 2011
19 Taiwan 37,720 2011
20 Denmark 37,152 2011
21 Finland 36,236 2011
22 United Kingdom 36,090 2011
We're 22nd.
ESOG said:
GroundEffect said:
It's based on the total wealth of the nation. The US is by FAR the richest nation on earth.
If you want to do it wealth/population (i.e. how much each person in the country 'owns' of that wealth):
1 Qatar 102,943 2011
2 Luxembourg 80,119 2011
3 Singapore 59,711 2011
4 Norway 53,471 2011
5 Brunei 49,384 2011
6 United States 48,387 2011
7 United Arab Emirates 48,158 2011
8 Switzerland 43,370 2011
9 Netherlands 42,183 2011
10 Austria 41,822 2011
11 Kuwait 41,691 2011
12 Canada 40,541 2011
13 Sweden 40,394 2011
14 Australia 40,234 2011
15 Ireland 39,639 2011
16 Iceland 38,061 2011
17 Germany 37,897 2011
18 Belgium 37,737 2011
19 Taiwan 37,720 2011
20 Denmark 37,152 2011
21 Finland 36,236 2011
22 United Kingdom 36,090 2011
We're 22nd.
22nd! Damn. Does the UK have alot of out sourcing like the US does. I only ask since you mentioned call centers etcIf you want to do it wealth/population (i.e. how much each person in the country 'owns' of that wealth):
1 Qatar 102,943 2011
2 Luxembourg 80,119 2011
3 Singapore 59,711 2011
4 Norway 53,471 2011
5 Brunei 49,384 2011
6 United States 48,387 2011
7 United Arab Emirates 48,158 2011
8 Switzerland 43,370 2011
9 Netherlands 42,183 2011
10 Austria 41,822 2011
11 Kuwait 41,691 2011
12 Canada 40,541 2011
13 Sweden 40,394 2011
14 Australia 40,234 2011
15 Ireland 39,639 2011
16 Iceland 38,061 2011
17 Germany 37,897 2011
18 Belgium 37,737 2011
19 Taiwan 37,720 2011
20 Denmark 37,152 2011
21 Finland 36,236 2011
22 United Kingdom 36,090 2011
We're 22nd.
GroundEffect said:
You thought the UK was 2nd? What century do you live in?
The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
Edit:
1 United States 15,094,025
2 China 7,298,147
3 Japan 5,869,471
4 Germany 3,577,031
5 France 2,776,324
6 Brazil 2,492,908
7 United Kingdom 2,417,570
We're 7th (Wiki GDP)
Things look rather different when you use GDP per capita.The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
Edit:
1 United States 15,094,025
2 China 7,298,147
3 Japan 5,869,471
4 Germany 3,577,031
5 France 2,776,324
6 Brazil 2,492,908
7 United Kingdom 2,417,570
We're 7th (Wiki GDP)
Edited by GroundEffect on Tuesday 22 May 19:08
ESOG said:
GroundEffect said:
You thought the UK was 2nd? What century do you live in?
The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
But how so? I mean if it is based more on economic strength and not all military than surely the US wouldnt be number 1 either. But instead a country with a more balanced and stable economy. The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
Edited to see Ground Eddects posting of the countries GDP. Makes sense when pout that way I suppose.
Edited by ESOG on Tuesday 22 May 19:12
Zod said:
So, a poor nation with only 50 people in it would put them at the top of the list with this formula. 
ESOG said:
(10) Saudi Arabia: a fair amount of oil money, influence in the Muslim world, and heavy spending in military.
Utter paper tiger, large and well equipped armed forces that would be utterly useless without foreign help and maintenance.http://www.meforum.org/441/why-arabs-lose-wars
http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=7682
Economy is essentially selling us oil so actually much more vulnerable to others not buying oil than the rest of the world is to them not supplying. Massive unemployment, corruption and poorly educated population.
Essentially the country equivalent of a cat that has inherited $20 million!
It depends how you define power.
In terms of ability to project a battle ready force a long distance the UK is probably a bit better prepared than France and Germany who, as I understand it, are mostly geared towards defence. Perhaps France less so? Also, since we've had 10 years of farting about in Iraq and Afghanistan, you can at least say we have a wealth of recent experience for any future conflict.
In terms of total headcount though, we wouldn't even be in the top 10, and if weight of numbers was an important element of the conflict, we would find it difficult to maintain a unilateral war with say Iran, Pakistan or Indonesia. We'd probably struggle to hold a Chinese province against the local militia.
So if we wanted to take over France we'd need to seriously up the man power first.
Plan B would be a total surprise attack, perhaps from the south with a ship returning from the gulf, or more likely a mock Al Qaeda attack. Once their defences are all running around dealing with this, the northern coast would be left exposed to a massive military landing and Paris by sunset.
Not the way I would go empire building though. I'd look to start a greater Britain with Ireland, Iceland and Norway subdued on relatively stable terms, then start stirring up trouble in neighbouring country that necessitate our intervention. Then Belgium and Holland. Luxembourg would probably fall in as a protectorate.
I'd then hold at this for a few years to consolidate, perhaps expanding a bit in the baltic states and settling border disputes in our favour, all the while needling France, Germany and Italy into mistrusting one another. Finally I would look to goad France into attacking Germany, then side with our teutonic allies to crush France. Italy will fall pretty easily, and Germany will be hemmed in on three sides.
They will probably feel insecure about this and start making moves to the east, which we will assist the smaller countries in resisting, hopefully spurring German military action which we will then meet with massive force and the threat of a nuclear strike.
Steady outward expansion after this until AJSistan is a superpower in it's own right that can take on Russia first, then consolidate Africa, and start the conquest of Asia, China and eventually the world.
In terms of ability to project a battle ready force a long distance the UK is probably a bit better prepared than France and Germany who, as I understand it, are mostly geared towards defence. Perhaps France less so? Also, since we've had 10 years of farting about in Iraq and Afghanistan, you can at least say we have a wealth of recent experience for any future conflict.
In terms of total headcount though, we wouldn't even be in the top 10, and if weight of numbers was an important element of the conflict, we would find it difficult to maintain a unilateral war with say Iran, Pakistan or Indonesia. We'd probably struggle to hold a Chinese province against the local militia.
So if we wanted to take over France we'd need to seriously up the man power first.
Plan B would be a total surprise attack, perhaps from the south with a ship returning from the gulf, or more likely a mock Al Qaeda attack. Once their defences are all running around dealing with this, the northern coast would be left exposed to a massive military landing and Paris by sunset.
Not the way I would go empire building though. I'd look to start a greater Britain with Ireland, Iceland and Norway subdued on relatively stable terms, then start stirring up trouble in neighbouring country that necessitate our intervention. Then Belgium and Holland. Luxembourg would probably fall in as a protectorate.
I'd then hold at this for a few years to consolidate, perhaps expanding a bit in the baltic states and settling border disputes in our favour, all the while needling France, Germany and Italy into mistrusting one another. Finally I would look to goad France into attacking Germany, then side with our teutonic allies to crush France. Italy will fall pretty easily, and Germany will be hemmed in on three sides.
They will probably feel insecure about this and start making moves to the east, which we will assist the smaller countries in resisting, hopefully spurring German military action which we will then meet with massive force and the threat of a nuclear strike.
Steady outward expansion after this until AJSistan is a superpower in it's own right that can take on Russia first, then consolidate Africa, and start the conquest of Asia, China and eventually the world.
Edited by AJS- on Wednesday 23 May 07:00
GroundEffect said:
You thought the UK was 2nd? What century do you live in?
The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
Edit:
1 United States 15,094,025
2 China 7,298,147
3 Japan 5,869,471
4 Germany 3,577,031
5 France 2,776,324
6 Brazil 2,492,908
7 United Kingdom 2,417,570
We're 7th (Wiki GDP)
That only holds true if you take GDP to be the only criteria for defining 'power'. We have a good degree of political influence with good seats in the UN, NATO and the SC, have a respected legal and political system and a well equipped and well trained military plus the +5 effect of a nuclear arsenal. There is a reason that despite being a small island with a limited population that Britain still holds as much influence as it does.The UK is now officially behind Brazil too. I think we're 8th.
Edit:
1 United States 15,094,025
2 China 7,298,147
3 Japan 5,869,471
4 Germany 3,577,031
5 France 2,776,324
6 Brazil 2,492,908
7 United Kingdom 2,417,570
We're 7th (Wiki GDP)
Edited by GroundEffect on Tuesday 22 May 19:08
It took brazil having a population 3.5x ours to get just ahead on the GDP scale.
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