Current Events > Who are the truly powerful nations in the world?

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Chine and America, I guess. Extremely strong economies, very relevant politically, and redoutable armies.

I'm surprised that people still say that places like Germany, Britain, etc, are that important. I mean, those two nations and others are pretty significant, but not they perhaps once were.

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More Americans have more personal wealth than Germans or Brits, or Chinese, too.
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It's not always about raw numbers or resources. Germany, for example, exercises considerable influence on the rest of the EU nations. I'd assume that is why names like that come up often.

Dash_Harber posted...

It's not always about raw numbers or resources. Germany, for example, exercises considerable influence on the rest of the EU nations. I'd assume that is why names like that come up often.

How often does Germany come up in international news, compared to America or China? Not as often, I expect.

Even Russia probably comes up more. Although, not usually for good reasons.

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Sunhawk posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

It's not always about raw numbers or resources. Germany, for example, exercises considerable influence on the rest of the EU nations. I'd assume that is why names like that come up often.

How often does Germany come up in international news, compared to America or China? Not as often, I expect.

Even Russia probably comes up more. Although, not usually for good reasons.

News is not the only barometer of 'power'. They aren't going to release a press release every time a country in the EU is influenced by German policy even a bit, but those sorts of changes add up.

Dash_Harber posted...

Sunhawk posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

It's not always about raw numbers or resources. Germany, for example, exercises considerable influence on the rest of the EU nations. I'd assume that is why names like that come up often.

How often does Germany come up in international news, compared to America or China? Not as often, I expect.

Even Russia probably comes up more. Although, not usually for good reasons.

News is not the only barometer of 'power'. They aren't going to release a press release every time a country in the EU is influenced by German policy even a bit, but those sorts of changes add up.

That's true. But Germany has more political influence over Europe, than the world, that's for sure. Economically, it seems very strong in many areas of the planet, but somewhere like the US is both, pretty much everywhere.

You know, 20 years from now, China is probably going to be "the" superpower. How should I, a citizen of the Western World feel about that?

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News is not the only barometer of 'power'. They aren't going to release a press release every time a country in the EU is influenced by German policy even a bit, but those sorts of changes add up.

Well they aren't more influential than Britain. Brexit could crash Germany's economy.

Not saying Germany isn't a strong nation, but I find it hard to call them a powerplayer when there is a far more powerful nation right down the street from them, pulling even more strings in the same region.

Sunhawk posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Sunhawk posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

It's not always about raw numbers or resources. Germany, for example, exercises considerable influence on the rest of the EU nations. I'd assume that is why names like that come up often.

How often does Germany come up in international news, compared to America or China? Not as often, I expect.

Even Russia probably comes up more. Although, not usually for good reasons.

News is not the only barometer of 'power'. They aren't going to release a press release every time a country in the EU is influenced by German policy even a bit, but those sorts of changes add up.

That's true. But Germany has more political influence over Europe, than the world, that's for sure. Economically, it seems very strong in many areas of the planet, but somewhere like the US is both, pretty much everywhere.

You know, 20 years from now, China is probably going to be "the" superpower. How should I, a citizen of the Western World feel about that?

I'm not saying the US isn't a superpower, I'm saying there are more measurements of superpower status than just news coverage. Some are obviously going to be more influential and powerful than others, but a country like Germany is going to be considered more of a power than, say, Thailand.

Authentic_fan posted...

News is not the only barometer of 'power'. They aren't going to release a press release every time a country in the EU is influenced by German policy even a bit, but those sorts of changes add up.

Well they aren't more influential than Britain. Brexit could crash Germany's economy.

Not saying Germany isn't a strong nation, but I find it hard to call them a powerplayer when there is a far more powerful nation right down the street from them, pulling even more strings in the same region.

Crash Germany's economy? Can you back that up with...evidence?

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Authentic_fan posted...

News is not the only barometer of 'power'. They aren't going to release a press release every time a country in the EU is influenced by German policy even a bit, but those sorts of changes add up.

Well they aren't more influential than Britain. Brexit could crash Germany's economy.

Not saying Germany isn't a strong nation, but I find it hard to call them a powerplayer when there is a far more powerful nation right down the street from them, pulling even more strings in the same region.

You are right, but like I said, there is no upper limit on superpowers. I'm not saying they are more powerful than Britain or China or the US, but to say they are not even worth looking at is foolish, in my opinion.

Crash Germany's economy? Can you back that up with...evidence?

No because it hasn't happened yet.

It's all speculation as of now, but brexit could potentially do terrible things for Germany.

But see I've also read articles that say brexit is bad for Britain so idk

Authentic_fan posted...

Crash Germany's economy? Can you back that up with...evidence?

No because it hasn't happened yet.

It's all speculation as of now, but brexit could potentially do terrible things for Germany.

But see I've also read articles that say brexit is bad for Britain so idk

Brexit is bad for everyone. It's about as smart of a move as people voting for Trump.

Fire nation
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Norway.
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not china. they're a paper tiger.
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Brazil.
Russia.
India.
China.

Are gonna rule the world come 20 years, and thatll be the end of everything.
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Chicken posted...

Fire nation

They did change everything.
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Dash_Harber posted...

Authentic_fan posted...

News is not the only barometer of 'power'. They aren't going to release a press release every time a country in the EU is influenced by German policy even a bit, but those sorts of changes add up.

Well they aren't more influential than Britain. Brexit could crash Germany's economy.

Not saying Germany isn't a strong nation, but I find it hard to call them a powerplayer when there is a far more powerful nation right down the street from them, pulling even more strings in the same region.

You are right, but like I said, there is no upper limit on superpowers. I'm not saying they are more powerful than Britain or China or the US, but to say they are not even worth looking at is foolish, in my opinion.

what's your obsession with Germany...jeez. Germany is far from the real world powers of today.

In terms of a country's power, you look at their THREAT.
This means most of all,

1. their military might. This is the core benchmark for true power.

2. their economic stability and progress. A country needs a strong economy to support itself first and con

3. the nationalism within. If a country can rally its people up to arms and for its cause, it can go full-on without opposition.

As of now, the US is still the most powerful nation due to their military and GDP but China is going to overtake soon, especially with a certain president withdrawing into isolationism.

China has been by far spending the most into their military more than ever, and their technology is rapidly advancing. On the geopolitics side, they've been very involved with the rest of the world, filling the gaping holes left by the US and British colonial rule. Particularly in Asia, where they want to be king.

They'll be looking to invade Taiwan one day, already have Hong Kong in their grasps, prying Phillipines away from US influence.... and looking to compromise other SEA countries like Singapore (the only completely sovereign Chinese-majority country far far away) and Australia (where there's also a significant Chinese population).
Oh, and they're already taking over the South China Sea despite the international tribunal ruling against them, having built their military bases there.

Over on the other side of the world, they've been targeting been slowly 'colonising' Africa through debt-heavy investments. They've just built a freaking military base there too.

Sri-Lanka is another country that's already wedged up to the Chinese and now in deep s*** debt. Right now, third-world countries make for good targets by China to invest in and slowly pull in their reigns.

But their physical influence is not to do with just a show of arms, no, it's primarily a seeping nationalism. They've literally got most of their billions of Chinese inhabitants so much in brainwashed patriotism that Chinese who go overseas are able to spread the Chinese communist idealogy all over the world. It's what's happening in places like Australia and Singapore.

You people don't realize how much China is taking over the world... especially with Trump's administration pulling out of everything. Without US aid, poor countries turn to, who else? China. But China will only have their national interests at heart and deals tipped to their favour. They'll make poorer countries bleed even more.

And of course...alliances shift. The US is losing their sphere of influence every passing tick of the time.

Wutobliteration posted...

Without US aid, poor countries turn to, who else? China. But China will only have their national interests at heart and deals tipped to their favour.

You say that as if the US doesn't.
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Vatican is probably high up there.
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Wutobliteration posted...


It was just an example.

Again, military threat and stability are not the sole measures of power. Being able to influence large groups of countries to band together and work towards your goals is a legitimate form of power.

I'm not discounting the US or China, I'm pointing out that those criteria are ridiculously narrow.