Potential Superpowers Countries

A map showing the United States as the
current superpower, along with other political
entities that have broad academic support as
potential superpowers.

1) United States



2) China



3) India



4) European Union



5) Russian



6) Brazil



The term 'Potential superpowers' has been applied by scholars and other qualified commentators to the possibility of several states achieving superpower status in the 21st century. Due to their large markets, growing military strength, economic potential, and influence in international affairs, China, the European Union, Russia and India are among the countries (or political entities) most cited as having the potential of achieving superpower status in the 21st century. Many historians, writers, and critics have expressed doubts, however, whether any of these countries would ever emerge as a new superpower. Some political scientists and other commentators have even suggested that such countries might simply be emerging powers, as opposed to potential superpowers.

Besides those mentioned above, a limited number of observers have also discussed the merits of Brazil having the potential to emerge as a superpower.

The record of such predictions has admittedly not been perfect. For example, in the 1980s, some commentators thought Japan would become a superpower, due to its large GDP and high economic growth at the time. However, Japan's economy crashed in 1991, creating a long period of economic slump in the country which has become known as The Lost Years . As of August 2012, Japan had yet to fully recover from the 1991 crash.


[Source - Wikipedia]