We spent most of the 20th Century in Iraq so why would we want to go back there

Good point LeEnfield!
Too bad George Dubya Bush didn't review his history books beforing jumping in willy-nilly!

That is all besides the point. You can argue the pros/cons of being a superpower and how well the United States has done in that position all you want, but that's another thread. But it still stands that England is not a superpower.

the only way Britain will be a superpower again is through a unified single state Europe, which if were being honest will never happen. We have an exellent army, suberb air force and a more than experienced navy, the problem the UK as though is the " projection of power" which we cannot do without the allience with the USA. Our SF (imo) are thre finest in the world, as are our marine`s, our nuclear capability is in actual fact quite small with only submarine capability. So in summary the uk has a very good econamy, a very good military and very good (again in iho) political system.

Without a doubt, way back before the term "Superpower" was coined, the British Empire was a Superpower.

Originally Posted by TBA_PAKI

The fundmental factors are:

- Strongest Economy
- Strongest Military
- Industrial Giant
- Massive Political Impact over the world
- VETO power in UN
- The capability to sustain in case of major disastors

USA enjoys all of these options and UK only enjoys 3.

China is the up-coming giant indeed as it enjoys 4 but it is ahead in every aspect to UK except 1 and that is (VTO).

I would argue with you that China enjoys 4 or that it is ahead of the UK in all but 1. It has the potential to have a stronger economy and be an industrial giant but it is not there yet. There is no way that China enjoys massive political impact over the world. It's never had that even when it was the strongest power on Earth which it was for hundreds of years in the past.

China and India will both probably become superpowers in some way if they can overcome their political systems which threaten to hamper growth and stability. But it will be a few years yet before another nation is able to project power all over the world like the USA currently can.

Originally Posted by Doppleganger

I would argue with you that China enjoys 4 or that it is ahead of the UK in all but 1. It has the potential to have a stronger economy and be an industrial giant but it is not there yet. There is no way that China enjoys massive political impact over the world. It's never had that even when it was the strongest power on Earth which it was for hundreds of years in the past.

China and India will both probably become superpowers in some way if they can overcome their political systems which threaten to hamper growth and stability. But it will be a few years yet before another nation is able to project power all over the world like the USA currently can.

Let me tell you a few things about China.

USA was not able to touch North Korea due to extreme pressure from China. This shows the political influence of this nation in Pacific Region.

China has a huge army and it is under process of modernization since a decade now. Even the US military admits that defeating China in war is out of options now and UK cant even afford a tussle with China let alone its Military might. This is the projection power of China in Military based situations and because of China, US has yet not considered Taiwan as a separate nation.

Even Russia lags behind much in terms of military strength compared to China.

If a war breaks out between China and Taiwan then Taiwan is toast for sure despite of all the weaponry that US gave to it.

China has the second strongest economy in the world after USA with 6.5 Trillion USD GDP after 10.5 Trillion USD GDP of US.

China is now the largest steal producing nation in the world and it even has vast OIL reserves and it is main exporter of cheap good around the world. These achievements symbolize its massive economic growth.

It is a VETO power in UN.

What else do you expect?

Originally Posted by TBA_PAKI

Let me tell you a few things about China.

USA was not able to touch North Korea due to extreme pressure from China. This shows the political influence of this nation in Pacific Region.

China has a huge army and it is under process of modernization since a decade now. Even the US military admits that defeating China in war is out of options now and UK cant even afford a tussle with China let alone its Military might. This is the projection power of China in Military based situations and because of China, US has yet not considered Taiwan as a separate nation.

Even Russia lags behind much in terms of military strength compared to China.

If a war breaks out between China and Taiwan then Taiwan is toast for sure despite of all the weaponry that US gave to it.

China has the second strongest economy in the world after USA with 6.5 Trillion USD GDP after 10.5 Trillion USD GDP of US.

China is now the largest steal producing nation in the world and it even has vast OIL reserves and it is main exporter of cheap good around the world. These achievements symbolize its massive economic growth.

It is a VETO power in UN.

What else do you expect?

You've demonstrated that China is a very powerful regional power, which is well known already. What China can't do is project its influence beyond its own region.

China may have the 2nd biggest economy in the world, but given its resources that really is no great shakes. Large parts of the Chinese economy are massively in need of restructure and it could all go belly-up if needed political reforms do not go through within the next 10 years.

I'm not sure what point you are making regarding military power. Russia's armed forces have been in decline for years and there is no practical way that the US and China could even seriously war unless it was global nuclear.

China has the potential to be the next Superpower but I still don't believe it will be able to project power like the US currently can. That involves not least building up a naval infrastructure that will never be politically acceptable unless China chooses that most extreme of foreign policy decisions. War.

Then the question is -- why and how did the UK decline from being a former superpower within such a short time?

Originally Posted by SAINT

Then the question is -- why and how did the UK decline from being a former superpower within such a short time?

Some ******* Americans and a wrinkly old bastard named Ghandi