Would you say that the United States' days as the World's Greatest Superpower are coming to an end?

jeeper_peeper321

Not anytime soon.

The US still has the largest economy in the world, more than twice the size of any other nation.

US - 13 trillion
China - 7 trillion
Japan - 4.2 trillion

Superpowers need four things:

1. Economic strength
2. Military strength
3. Resources
4. Ability and desire to use their strength in the world.

The US is the only country on earth, with all four.

The US dollar is still the currency of choice around the world.

It still is used as a nations Reserve currency 80% of the time..

While the Euro has made gains as a reserve currency, it didn't make those gains at the expense of the dollar. It replaced other currencies like the Yen and the Pound.

Relations with Russia, are better now, than they have been for most of the time period after WW ll.

Venezuela, who cares, they are a small third world county.

As to comparing the US to the Roman Empire, that's not a valid comparison.

What made the Roman empire so strong, was the resources they were able to gain, from their far flung outpost and nations conquered.

When those resources dried up, either due to other nations taking control over the outpost or the locals regaining control, thats what lead to the downfall of the Roman Empire.

The US doesn't have any far flung empires to lose control over.

Penny S

Economically we have problems but funny thing is when we have problems in the Stock market so does the rest of the world!

Militarily we are the strongest both in technoogy and the level of the Soldier. Problem is we are to poilitically correct when we fight. China might have alot of soldiers but they have poor training and they could not possibly transport them to actually fight us.

the US has problems and eventually could step down as the Superpower of the world. Won't be anytime soon though and I am not sure who is the one to step up

Art D

yes..............we have been in the midst of the decline of the American Empire for quite some time now, but being in the center of the empire we do not notice it crumbling around the edges

bennymagik

nope, the US has got a long time to go still.
SSDD

Wise_guy

Watch I.O.U.S.A
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=O_TjBNjc9Bo

The term " 53 Trillion dollars in debt " gets mentioned.
Military isn't everything.
After WW2 the UK and the french were bankrupt , they used to be world powers, but after the war they owed an awful amount of money to the US so the US had them in their back pocket.
In the 50's , the UK , the french and Israel went to war with Egypt over the Suez canal which the Egyptians decided to nationalize. The invading forces defeated the Egyptians and took the canal.
BUT Russia threatened to intervene on the Egyptians side, and the US were afraid of a massive war in the region.
So they threatened the UK and France that they would pull all their debt and effectively crush both their economies.
The UK and Frances military were no pushover but due to this FINANCIAL threat they pulled out within weeks and listened to the country that had ownership of their debt.

China owns enough of the United States debt to be able to dictate what it does. China has the US by the balls just like the US had the UK and France by the balls after the war. So the US military strength dosen't count for that much in a financial war.

Mickey Mouse Spears

I think the U.S. status as the world's greatest superpower have already passed. They passed a long time ago. I'm sure if China flexed it's muscle, we would be obliterated many times over.

Anonymous

I'd say that's what we get for voting he-who-must-not-be-named into office twice.

We deserve it, really. We have totally abused our power.

Maybe now Americans will be more humbled and aware of what's happening in the world instead of what's happening in Britney's world.

Lucifer

when a country is ran by incompetent yes men
what do you expect?

Mark J

I think the U.S. will remain a vital power in the world because we have four things: 1-wealth 2-population 3-idealism 4-military strength, but I acknowledge that we have three things that could cause our influence to fade: 1-financial problems 2-political division 3-competition.

I think the U.S. remains a world power, but it will have other nations that will join it. I suspect in the next ten years, that China's status will make it the number one power in the world. At the moment- they experience industrialization similar to Britain's in the 19th century and America's in the 20th century. I think the first part of 21st century will be time of China. I also think our debt situation regardless of the size of our economy could be the number one reason why America's status fades into a oblivion. Our debt is the largest the world has ever seen because we do not know how to save. A nation's ability to produce (which we do not) goods, care for our society (disagreement exists- watch for medicare/social security financial problems, and a sense of morality have to exist for a nation to prosper. In our nation, we have lost our sense of purpose. Do we believe in Republicanism or Socialism? What is our higher power as a nation? Do we encourage personal responsibility?

Many arguments can be made to your question because I do not think anyone knows for sure.

furf9666

Absolutely not

Wise 1

there is currently pox americana, if that ends we will have a problem. but every great empire goes through hard times, and american will fight...and win

Jack

Don't worry yourself, America still has years ahead of us as a super power.
Europe will never be a superpower at the rate there moving. Your speaking of future pretty much, so you should look into their birth rate. It's pretty bad through out almost all of Europe. At the same time, they let in more Islamic immigrant's as Europeans flee the country(looks at what's been happening with Germany lately http://www.fee.org/publications/the-freeman/article.asp?aid=8372)
China is going to continue to see gains economically, but we don't have to worry about a blow up with China. If there's one good thing President Bush did, he really strengthened ties with China the past 8 years. We do WAY to much business with them for them to want us out of the picture any time soon. And that's economically, militarily China could never win a war against us. Try to remember back to the Iraq war when we flaunted are military power for the first time since the 90's, before the war we were seen as a more humble superpower, but that didn't stop 9/11 from happening. We were out in force, toppling the strongest military in the middle east in 2 days.
Russia couldn't either. Notice they've quited down since the economic fall out? That's because they've almost completely scrapped any future navy or military reconstruction they were working towards. Oil prices have dropped so far, and they rely on the buying of that oil. So we don't have to worry about Russia, there nothing compared to the Soviet Union during the cold war.At the same time their economy, and military is falling, their birth rate has dropped to scary records of low.
America's still on top, we just have to keep our heads together.

Mike D

i would give the USA 20 years max of being the sole superpower, it happens to every country that becomes a superpower
even when the USA isn't a superpower will it matter? im british and britain was a superpower a few decades ago but i don't care because i live in a nice country its not the best but i get by fine, you should be thank full that you live in a country where lots of people enjoy a high standard of living, you should be thank full that you have freedom of speech and human rights etc
even if china does become a superpower and the US hasn't got a great influence on the world like it has today, the US will always be the better country because china has very little human rights, they have little children working in factories 12 hours a day..... basically what im trying to say is being a superpower isn't everything it doesn't make you a better country, there are people in Africa, india china etc that would do anything to live in the USA and i can guarantee you it will still be like that when the US isn't a superpower

silver_emania

One can only hope. Americans have done this to themselves with their overindulgence.

Matthew9126

no for the next 4 years we will be messed up hopefully that will change in 2012 then we will be back as a great super power to answer your question your friend is right but not for long give it time we will be back

thomas matengo

Yes its time for america to fall ands give an opportunity to other rising giants-china,india and russia...america is so destructive both culturally and environmentally...Gogddam america.

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