World powers are the countries with the greatest geopolitical power that can influence world politics or the politics of individual regions. The world powers are subdivided into superpowers, great powers, and regional powers.
Superpowers
A superpower is called a state with enormous political influence, which has economic and military superiority over other states of the world. The geopolitical position of the superpowers allows them to influence states in the most remote parts of the planet. In the modern world, superpowers must have a strategic stockpile of nuclear weapons.
For the first time the term "superpower" was used by William Fox in 1944 in the book "Superpower". After World War II, three states were considered superpowers: Great Britain, the United States and the USSR. Great Britain soon began to lose its colonies and by 1957 had lost its superpower status.
Until 1991, there were two superpowers in the world (the USSR and the USA), which headed the strongest military-political blocs (OVD and NATO). After the collapse of the USSR, the superpower status remained only with the United States. The term "hyperpower" was coined to describe this situation. But the beginning of the 21st century, the United States continues to be the most influential state in the world, but many experts believe that the status of a superpower may be lost or already lost. China is gradually approaching the status of a superpower.
There is an opinion among political scientists that the era of superpowers is a thing of the past. The current world is becoming multipolar, with several centers of influence and an increasing role of potential and regional superpowers. Potential superpowers now include China, Brazil, the European Union, India and Russia.
Great powers
Great powers are called states that, due to their political influence, play a decisive role in the global geopolitical situation. This name is unofficial, it appeared after the Napoleonic wars and was introduced into official circulation by Leopold von Ranke.
In recent history, five countries - members of the UN Security Council have had the status of great powers. All great powers have participated in most of the world's conflicts and are nuclear powers.
There are three criteria by which a country can be assigned the status of a great power. This is its resource potential, "geography of interests" (depending on the territory to which the influence of the state extends) and international status.
In the modern world, there are 10 great powers: the United States, China, Russia, India, Japan, Germany, France, Brazil and Great Britain.
Regional powers
Regional powers are a non-legal name for states that, due to their economic and political potential, play a major role in the system of international relations in individual macroregions. At the same time, in world politics, they do not have much influence, with the exception of those regional powers that are at the same time great powers.
In the modern world, there are 24 regional powers. In Middle East Asia, these are Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel. In East Asia - China, Japan and South Korea. In South Asia - India and Pakistan. In Southeast Asia - Indonesia. In America - the USA and Canada. In Latin America, Brazil and Mexico. In North Africa - Egypt. In West and Central Africa - Nigeria. In South Africa - South Africa. In Western Europe - Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy and France. In Eastern Europe, Russia. In Oceania - Australia.
