Great power
A great power, often referred to as a superpower, is a nation that possesses significant influence in international affairs through political, economic, or military means. Historically, the concept emerged during the age of colonization and trade in the sixteenth century, evolving as empires vied for control. While there are no fixed criteria for defining a great power, traditionally, a strong economy and military have been seen as essential attributes. In the aftermath of World War II, countries like Germany and Japan showcased that economic strength could also secure great power status, even with limited military capabilities.
The landscape of great powers has shifted significantly, particularly with the rise of the United States as a dominant force in the twentieth century, alongside the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Economic alliances like the G7 have also shaped perceptions of power in the modern world. In the twenty-first century, economic might has become increasingly important, with nations like China, India, and oil-rich countries gaining influence. Despite changes in global dynamics, the United States remains a leading power, while other nations like Russia, the UK, and France continue to be recognized for their global impact, albeit with varying degrees of influence.
Great power
A great power, or superpower, is a nation that can exert its power and influence on international affairs through political, economic, or military means. While empires and kingdoms had vied for regional control for thousands of years, the term great power usually refers to nations from the modern era—generally considered to have begun with the age of colonization and trade in the sixteenth century CE. There are no established criteria for what classifies a nation as a great power, and as such, any list is highly subjective. Prior to World War II, the combination of a strong economy and military was largely considered essential for a nation to become a great power. After the war, however, several nations with limited military might, such as Germany and Japan, focused on building an economic advantage to achieve great power status.
The Rise of Europe
Almost from the dawn of civilization, humans have attempted to accumulate influence and power in the form of empires. The first known empire was the Akkadian Empire in Mesopotamia in the third millennium BCE.; in the ensuing centuries, the Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Mongols, and a host of others followed. By 1500—the date historians tend to use to mark the beginning of modern history—the most dominant forces in the world were the Chinese and the Ottoman Empire. The Chinese had a highly advanced military and trading economy, but they had begun to isolate themselves in the fifteenth century to deal with the threat of invaders on their northern borders. After the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople—the last Christian stronghold in the Middle East—in 1453, it too began to focus on maintaining its empire rather than expanding its influence.
European countries that suddenly found themselves cut off from their supply routes to China began looking for a new path to the Eastern world. Nations began to finance voyages of discovery over the Atlantic Ocean, hoping to bypass the Ottoman roadblock and reconnect with the Asian markets. Instead, they found the New World and the untapped resources it offered. Competition among the nations led to developments in technology and innovation as countries scrambled for new land. By the mid-seventeenth century, Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, and the Netherlands controlled the balance of power in Europe. After a series of military victories, Great Britain emerged in the eighteenth century as the predominant global force, overseeing an empire that controlled almost a quarter of the earth's land and a fifth of the world's population at its height.
Great Powers since the Twentieth Century
The power structure of Europe changed several times in the nineteenth century, but the biggest change to global supremacy was occurring across the Atlantic in the former British colonies that formed the United States. The United States underwent a large expansion in the nineteenth century, acquiring land across the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific. This gave the nation access to vast resources an ocean away from the wars and squabbles of Europe, and allowed it to become an economic powerhouse. In 1898, the United States asserted itself on the international stage with a victory in the Spanish-American War. Almost twenty years later, as Europe exploded into World War I, the United States used its resources and military to ensure an Allied victory. America emerged even stronger as Europe's powers struggled under crushing debt and the destruction brought about by four years of war. A similar outcome in World War II further cemented the United States as a military and economic superpower.
In the post-war years, the Soviet Union also grew in power, supported by its formidable military and a geographic advantage that provided it with a large source of natural resources. For more than four decades, the United States and Soviet Union squared off in a power struggle for dominance known as the Cold War.
While the Soviet Union often expanded its territory by force, the United States built economic alliances with other nations. In the 1970s, the United States, United Kingdom, France, West Germany, and Japan formed a financial coalition that became known as the Group of Five (G5). A few years later, Canada and Italy were added, and the G5 became the G7. In 1990, Germany was reunified and remained part of the G7. After the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, Russia was invited to join the G7 nations and was formally included in the group in 1997, making the G8. While inclusion in the G7 or G8 is not an official designation of great power status, the nations are often considered the world's most influential economies.
In the twenty-first century, economic power, rather than military might, became the primary force behind global influence. The United States remains the world's dominant economy and wields considerable political power, but China's booming markets have given it a global influence. Germany and Japan, two nations left without strong militaries since World War II, have turned their focus on economic matters into positions of global power. Russia remains an international player even after being stripped of G8 status after it annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014. The United Kingdom and France are still powerful nations, despite being considered to have slipped from the ranks of great powers by some observers. India's fast-growing economy and the oil wealth of Saudi Arabia and Iran have also given those nations consideration as great powers.
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