| Revision as of 02:15, 11 July 2002 editThe Anome (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Administrators253,694 edits including air power and satellite capabilities← Previous edit | Revision as of 02:26, 11 July 2002 edit undoThe Anome (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Administrators253,694 edits OK, someone else take over, I'm drifiting from NPOVNext edit → | ||
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| During the ] the two superpowers were the ] and the ]. With the political collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States is the world's sole remaining superpower. | During the ] the two superpowers were the ] and the ]. With the political collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States is the world's sole remaining superpower. | ||
| === America's position as the sole superpower === | |||
| Critics of the United States describe the current state of affairs as the '']'', with the United States as guarantor of world peace. Harsher critics say that America is acting as an ] nation, despite its protests to the contrary. | Critics of the United States describe the current state of affairs as the '']'', with the United States as guarantor of world peace. Harsher critics say that America is acting as an ] nation, despite its protests to the contrary. | ||
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| America's position as a superpower has entangled it in almost every major conflict world-wide, including the ] and the situation in ]. | America's position as a superpower has entangled it in almost every major conflict world-wide, including the ] and the situation in ]. | ||
| ⚫ | America was attacked by ] in ], and is now fighting a "]" world-wide. America is now also reported as making plans to invade ]. | ||
| Americans in general regard their interventions as forced on them by moral necessity. The American public generally sees world affairs in moral terms, with "good guys" and "bad guys", rather than in terms of ] and ]. | Americans in general regard their interventions as forced on them by moral necessity. The American public generally sees world affairs in moral terms, with "good guys" and "bad guys", rather than in terms of ] and ]. | ||
| ⚫ | America was attacked by the ]s ] in ], and is now fighting a "]" world-wide. America is now also reported as making plans to invade ]. | ||
| === Superpowers and asymmetric warfare === | |||
| Whilst a superpower is in a position to win any all-out war against a lesser power, it is less able to fight an ] against a weaker opponent that is willing to use ] tactics. In this case, the extensive civilian, industrial and military assets of the superpower provide a wide range of targets to an enemy which is willing to attack from hiding without notice. | |||
| Military strategists have anticipated this situation for many years, but effective measures against asymmetric warfare have been hard to construct. T | |||
| === Potential superpowers === | === Potential superpowers === | ||
Revision as of 02:26, 11 July 2002
A superpower is a state with the ability to influence events on a global scale. In practice, this means one with strong armed forces, including air power and satellite capabilities, and a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons.
During the Cold War the two superpowers were the United States and the Soviet Union. With the political collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States is the world's sole remaining superpower.
America's position as the sole superpower
Critics of the United States describe the current state of affairs as the Pax Americana, with the United States as guarantor of world peace. Harsher critics say that America is acting as an imperialist nation, despite its protests to the contrary.
This is in contrast to its position of isolationism in the early 20th century.
American entanglement abroad
America's position as a superpower has entangled it in almost every major conflict world-wide, including the Middle East crisis and the situation in Kashmir.
Americans in general regard their interventions as forced on them by moral necessity. The American public generally sees world affairs in moral terms, with "good guys" and "bad guys", rather than in terms of realpolitik and moral equivalence.
America was attacked by the Islamic fascists Al Qaeda in 2001, and is now fighting a "War on Terrorism" world-wide. America is now also reported as making plans to invade Iraq.
Superpowers and asymmetric warfare
Whilst a superpower is in a position to win any all-out war against a lesser power, it is less able to fight an asymmetric war against a weaker opponent that is willing to use terrorist tactics. In this case, the extensive civilian, industrial and military assets of the superpower provide a wide range of targets to an enemy which is willing to attack from hiding without notice.
Military strategists have anticipated this situation for many years, but effective measures against asymmetric warfare have been hard to construct. T
Potential superpowers
Countries that could become superpowers in the coming decades include:
- Russia, the most powerful of the countries of the former Soviet Union
- China, which currently only has a small nuclear deterrent, but the world's largest army.