What Makes a Super Power?

What are the requirements to become a Superpower? 

So what is superpower? In theory the term Superpower is classified as something that rose after WW2, USSR and USA. But in reality the very Superpower is completely different and is much wider than Communism and Capitalism. The term superpower in wide sense points towards a nation/state/Kingdom/Empire that is far more powerful than other states around it on almost every single term. It’s not just the Military power and Nuclear weapons that makes a nation into superpower.

There are many different factors and stages that are to be achieved and possessed in order to become a Super Power.a

What makes a Super Power?

• Strong Internal Structure
• Well Established Political Identity
• Powerful armed Forces
• Widely established Tributaries/client states/Vassals/ or Protectorates
• Clear Control over a large Geographic Sector that is not adjacent to Border
• And Most Importantly a Clearly declared Rival of almost equal Status

Note: Well some say United States is the only Superpower today, but one must understand that without a Counter balance to keep things balanced no nation can remain a superpower, which means there can never be a single Super power (atleast not for too long).

Strong Internal Structure:

This includes Political Unification, Security, Government, Discipline and Local markets. In contrast to other factors, this forms the very basic part of attaining Superpower status. There are great many nations which had most other factors but never made a superpower mark due to poor internal organization, examples includes Persia and Ottoman Empire. Both these states had a strong Military domination, long area of influence through conquest and unique political identities, yet they didn’t had a clear internal Structure as with the case of Ancient Rome, Greek Super City States such as Athens or Sparta.

Well Established Political Identity:

Political Identity is different from Political Unification, strong and unique political ideology that is different from rivaling powers is what that makes Unique Political Identity. Perfect Example for this would be Communism vs Capitalism during the post-world war era or Military Totalitarianism of Sparta vs Democracy of

Powerful armed Forces:

Power is always derived from flexing muscles of armed forces; it might be Hoplites of Sparta, famous Legionaries of Roman Empire or Deadly Mechanized armies of US and USSR during Post world war era. Establishing and maintaining powerful armed forces which includes Army, Navy and air force could is critical for projecting superpower status both at homeland defense and to show some force abroad. A perfect example for this is Korean War, Vietnam war, Middle East wars between US and USSR Client States or Peliponesian wars between Spartan   league and Athens’s allies.

Widely established Tributaries/client states/Vassals/ or Protectorates:

Most important part of Super power game is to fight for Client states otherwise called as influence sector. Both sides will usually try to achieve domination over a different countries and states to spread their ideologies and to add military bases of operations. Once again the perfect examples are Sparta Vs Athens: being a naval power Athens established allies and client states all across Greek Coast while Sparta established Domination over land by adding more allies and protectorates. More recent examples include NATO and similar treaties by USA vs Warsaw Pact by USSR.

Clear Control over a large Geographic Sector that is not adjacent to Border:

Establishing domination over different Geographic Sectors is crucial for modern super powers, but it was never considered as an option long before. Trade, Dependency on wide range of raw materials such as Petrol and Food across the world is the main reason for this. Establishing influence or domination over different sectors of the globe is a trend that started during Colonial era and continues still now but through diplomatic means. Examples include Colonial Empires of Britain and France, Control of Middle east and Petrol Routes during the height of US-USSR cold war era.

And Most Importantly a Clearly declared Rival of almost equal Status:

This is far more vital and it is the last step towards becoming a superpower. As nations rise, there are always counters to them some of which are temporary while others go down into history. For instance Rome as a super power faced great many Rivals but it was able to defeat most of its rivals, starting from Macedonians, Carthaginians, Persians and Huns. Potential Rival is vital as it drives common enemies together and makes alliance and client states that much easier. Same was the case between US and USSR, as Western Europe feared Russian Communism and overwhelming military power, they readily became US Allies and Client State. So was the case with China, North Korea and Cuba as they joined hands with USSR against USA. Without a reasonable counter weight, it is hard to attain super power status as the only way to dominate is to conquer and it leaves no one to surrender and accept Domination.

This article is just a beginning of what is to come under this category; I wish to write more on Super power race, history and ww2 topics in the future.

For more check this link: Dawn of new super power struggle.