What countries are considered great powers today?
In 2022, I believe that only three countries meet the requirement to be considered a Great Power by classical standards. I rank them in the following order:
- China, ~20% of global economic output, ~50% of global industrial output, ~20% of the world's population and ~13 million combat personnel (active + reserves + militia + paramilitary)
- USA, ~16% of global economic output, ~20% of global industrial output, ~5% of the world's population and ~2.5 million combat personnel (active + reserves + militia + paramilitary)
- Russia, ~3% of global economic output, ~8% of global industrial output, ~2.5% of the world's population and ~5 million combat personnel (active + reserves + militia + paramilitary).
What other countries do you think exert enough economic, industrial, soft and hard power to be named a Great Power?
What are your thoughts on the UK based on the parameters you've set above and where do you position the UK on this global power house ranking?
They have massive soft power projection and cultural exports (perhaps even more than the US) with the Anglosphere and former colonies/current commonwealth states such as Hong Kong, Singapore and the likes.
They have a tiny population, but an impressive economy.
What makes me disqualify them from current great power status is their lack of natural resources and hard power. The Royal Navy currently has the ability to project power for operations that are limited in scope and duration, but lack the size to protect shipping lanes, blockade another great power or deploy significant forces on another continent, greatly reducing their soft power.
Although not a soft power, I'd put them at around 6-8th on the global hierarchy, above France, South Korea, Italy, Spain, Canada and Australia, but below Germany and Japan.
Okay, I got it but why are Japan and Germany above the UK?
After what we've been seeing in the past few months......not Russia.
Ah yes, losing an asymmetrical war using limited manpower and limited resources to achieve (globally) small-scale and insignificant objectives instantly makes a country no longer a great power. I guess Vietnam, the Suez Crisis, Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq and other shenanigans makes the US, France and the UK no longer great powers.
The US basically had control of Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq and could have stayed muchmuch longer if they wanted to. Russia doesn't even seem to be able to occupy Ukraine successfully. Pretty pitiful. Personally, I've never been less scared of WWIII with Russia than now given their poor military performance.
Unironically - the UK. Has been a superpower in the shadows for hundreds of years and prefers to keep it that way. Brexit was a blessing in disguise four years down the road.
Ah yes, they sure showed everybody how superpower-y they were during the Suez Crisis.
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Could you please elaborate on your perception?
South Korea is a dominant power in the world’s semi supply. Would place them in the top 10 overall
Countries? There is just one based on economic, military, and soft power dominance.
Good point....the U.S. has ~800 military bases around the world. How many does Russia or even China have?
My ass cheeks
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