Superpowers Of The World

[Shahjehansoomro]

The concept of a superpower has developed to include economic, cultural, military and geographical influence. Superpowers are able to influence policy on a worldwide scale, and often in different regions at the same time.

The history of super power countries elaborates as there has been three superpower countries so far like Britain, Russia, and USA. USA is the only superpower of the world at a moment.

The American continent was discovered by Columbus in 1492. In fact, Muslim sailors reached the American continent before Columbus, in 1178. During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, The Independence Day of America is commemorated on July 4, 1776.

In the mid 11th Century England achieved independence under Edward the Confessor, but on his death, in 1066, the England was invaded by Danes, Norwegians, Bretons and Normans.

In the 8th century and onwards there were three regional groups known in the world before England as Danes were from North Germanic ethnic group native to Denmark, Norwegians were from Norway and Norman were from Northern France.

The core of the British Empire was formed by India (the keystone of the whole structure of British industry and finance in the 19th century), Canada and later, Australia and New Zealand and South Africa, this part of the Empire was secured after two Boer Wars (1880-81, 1899-1902). Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa had the status of dominions. In the second half of the century, British expansion in Africa started.

The Britain invaded 200 countries as the most part of the world. The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It originated with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England between the late 16th and early 18th centuries.

In the 19th century, Britain held the leading position becoming the first superpower in the world, its great industrial empire was protected by its powerful navy and its colonial empire was at its height.

Two World Wars have been fought until now. The First World War was fought in 1914- 1918 and Second World War was fought in 1939- 1945. The term “Superpower“ was first applied post World War II to the British Empire, Russia and the United States.

After the Second World War, and the expenses of Two World Wars, Britain got to see the damage in infrastructure and economy causing the end of first superpower of the world in 1956.

After the Second World War, the USA had a greatly enhanced status and power.
Russian troops were later withdrawn from Afghanistan in 1985. During this period the USA had developed the neutron bomb, cruise missiles and a ‘Star Wars’ defence system with space satellites.

In December 1979, in the midst of the Cold War, the Soviet Union 40th Army invaded Afghanistan in order to prop up the communist government of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) against a growing insurgency.

For the duration of the Cold War the United States and the Soviet Union came to be generally regarded as the two remaining superpowers, dominating world affairs. At the end of the Cold War(1979-1989) in Afghanistan and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia could not afford the arms race and its economy was backward thus the Russian super power also ended. Only the United States appeared to be the world’s superpower.
America continues to be superpower of the world until now.

A question always arises who will be the next? Who will be next superpower of the world as the fourth superpower?

The fact is that there doesn’t seem to be any kind of signs or possibilities of World War III for fourth superpower of the world at a moment. Likewise the most emerging or preparing country for this status can be talked about is China.

The China has keenly been preparing for superpower status of the world from every point of view for years. So we can say that next superpower could be the China possibly in the next few centuries but like I said it’s just a beginning, we can only think about that at a moment.