There has been an imbalance in the world ever since the end of the cold war with the fall of the U.S.S.R. The destruction of the Berlin Wall symbolized peace in the world and a hope for a better future. Sadly, that dream has never been recognized. Fighting, social and political unrest, a lot of it started by the United States of America, the last super power. Being the only super power, the U.S.A. has been able to by-pass the resolution of the United Nations that the war in Iraq was illegal, and still we do nothing! Now the point of my post. What if there was another super power? What if we could balance it once and for all? Have another power up there that would keep the U.S.A. in line? Where to find one though? No country by itself is strong enough to equal the military and economic mass of the U.S.A. There is an option. Lying across the great Atlantic Ocean the is a super power lying dormant waiting to be awoken. The European Union is the key to stoping the American threat. If the rest of the world helped to build up the E.U. economically, financially, just a little bit, and the rest of the European countries joined with them creating a unified front, a unified continent, they would at least balance out the U.S.A. is not tip the scales a little. It has been too long since the American power has gone unchecked. It is high time they get taken off their self-built pedestal and put on equal footing with the world they live in.

I agree that the world does need more superpowers (note the plural) to be 'balanced' and generally more stable. But in no way I would like to see the bipolar division of power which existed during the Cold War. The theory stands that the most stablility is generated by a multipower system, then single power, and the least stable, a bipolar system.

Ignoring the rhetoric of an "o mighty Europe to counter America", I do think the most plausible of counterweights to superpowers can be found in the EU, but that is far from current reality. These things are hard to estimate but I'd say 30-50 years at least till Europe tips the scales.

There is a current economic superpower besides the US, China. China lacks the military force to make it a superpower, but it does possess the economic structure for it. I'd also reckon that India has plenty of power to be realized. Or another theoretical superpower, Africa.

The Europeans (no offence to those of you on this board) are far to passive to be able to counter the US. Economically, possibly, but regarding militarily it seems far from likely.

Like Spork said, China is most likely to counter the US. It has had economic growth of around 9% a year (the fastest in the world) during the past few years, and I really don't understand why Spork believes they lack the military to become a superpower. They clearly have the military numbers, but they lack of economic strength in order to advance technologically - but one can easily see by the substantial economic growth that this is changing.

I really would ask you to explain this Spork.

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I agree, Europe isn't capable of (and doesn't particularily want to) counter the US militarily. But if the planned joint military develops further, and further, you never know, especially if Russia find its way in some day. The potential is there.

As for China simply, China's military is not global (as the US is, or even Britain and France). The Chinese military can only operate within a X kilometer radius away from the Chinese (or any friendly) border, that is without counting ICBMs. Chine couldn't say, invade Iraq, if it felt like it, but it could invade Mongolia. China is a superpower, but not a military one, yet. But China has enough power already without the military means to influence global issues.

And Africa, it is complete theory. Africa has enormous amounts of resources and potential to utilize them, more so than Europe or North America for example. But then again, all the corrupt dictatorships and governments and lack of investment lead to the current African situation. But in theory, Africa possesses the natural resources to become a superpower, but this will not happen during my lifetime or yours, maybe my grandchildren, if they try hard.

Japan is ecomonomiclly one f the best country's around and does have a decent military behind it.

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But as in World War II, Japan is limited by resources, being highly dependant on external sources. Japan can become a great regional power, but it lacks the potential of becoming a true behemoth. Also now with Japan's post-war constitution any military (It's called the Self-Defence Force) growth is very difficult and limited.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd say it would heavily strain Japan to maintain global superpower status, so Japan will stay a regional power.

The only way to balance the power of the United States is through global economic integration. This makes the U.S. more dependent on others, and subject to multi-polar decision making.

But, I will say something. The fact that the U.S. couldn't get the UN to pass a second resolution shows that we aren't so powerful any more. Give it 25 years, and we'll be one of 3 or 4 poles in a new world. Unless the bombs fly first.

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...but isn't the US, or almost any country for that matter, already dependant on the global economy? There are very few autarkies left today.

Obviously we are talking about a certain degree of globalization that effectively means no turning back.

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