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Superpower

This article is about the geographic and political term. For the fictional superhuman abilities, see Superpower (ability). For other uses, see Superpower (disambiguation).

Superpower describes a sovereign state or supranational union that holds a dominant position characterized by the ability to exert influence and project power on a global scale.[1][2][3] This is done through the combined means of economic, military, technological, political, and cultural strength as well as diplomatic and soft power influence. Traditionally, superpowers are preeminent among the great powers. While a great power state is capable of exerting its influence globally, superpowers are states so influential that no significant action can be taken by the global community without first considering the positions of the superpowers on the issue.[4]

In 1944, during World War II, the term was first applied to the British Empire, the Soviet Union, and the United States.[5] During the Cold War, the British Empire dissolved, leaving the United States and the Soviet Union to dominate world affairs. At the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States became the world's sole superpower,[6][7] a position sometimes referred to as that of a "hyperpower".[8] Since the late 2010s and into the 2020s, China has increasingly been described as an emerging superpower[9][10] or even an established one,[11][12][13] as China represents the "biggest geopolitical test of the 21st century" to the United States, as it is "the only country with enough power to jeopardize the current global order".[14]

  1. ^ Munro, André. "superpower". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  2. ^ Leonard, Mark (18 February 2005). "Europe: the new superpower". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  3. ^ McCormick, John (2007). The European Superpower. Palgrave Macmillan.
  4. ^ Munro, André. "superpower (Political Science)". britannica. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  5. ^ Hall, H. Duncan (October 1944). "The Super-Powers; The United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union—Their Responsibility for Peace. By William T. R. Fox. (New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company. 1944. Pp. 162. $2.00.)". American Political Science Review. 38 (5). cambridge.org: 1013–1015. doi:10.2307/1949612. ISSN 0003-0554. JSTOR 1949612. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  6. ^ Bremer, Ian (28 May 2015). "These Are the 5 Reasons Why the U.S. Remains the World's Only Superpower". Time.
  7. ^ From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations since 1776 (Published 2008), by Professor George C. Herring (Professor of History at Kentucky University)
  8. ^ Nossal, Kim Richard. 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 7 August 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2007.
  9. ^ Bekkevold, Jo Inge. "Why China Is Not a Superpower". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  10. ^ Schuman, Michael (5 October 2020). "What Happens When China Leads the World". The Atlantic. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  11. ^ "The Debate – Macron in the middle? French president in China amid superpower showdown". France 24. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  12. ^ Simon, Kuper. "There are only two global superpowers left". Financial Times.
  13. ^ Eaglen, Mackenzie. "It's Time to Retire the Term "Near-Peer" Competitor When It Comes to China". AEI.
  14. ^ "China poses "biggest geopolitical test" for the U.S., Blinken says". NBC News. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2024.

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