Top Ten World Powers

monkspider · January 5, 2004, 20:34

Based on economic strength, military strength, international influence, etc etc.

In order:

1. United States
2. China
3. Japan
4. Germany
5. United Kingdom
6. India
7. Russia
8. France
9. Korea
10. Israel

Any objections?

Frozzy · January 5, 2004, 20:35

UK above Germany, and maybe Japan.

Patroklos · January 5, 2004, 20:37

Germany's economy is much more robust, as is that of France. France also eclipsed British military spending and overall rated strength last year according to Janes.

BeBro · January 5, 2004, 20:37

Difficult, but since both UK and France have nuclear forces and are permanently in the UNSC I´d put them higher than Germany, even if their economy is not as strong.

Dauphin · January 5, 2004, 20:37

Where's Australia?

monkspider · January 5, 2004, 20:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Crunch
Where's Australia?

I thought about giving them an honorable mention but decieded against it.

BeBro · January 5, 2004, 20:39

Oh, and Germany over Japan. Militarily we do more then they do, politically our influence seems bigger to me (maybe wrong here, though) and they had much better times economically (despite the German economy has some trouble as well currently).

Frozzy · January 5, 2004, 20:40

Quote:

Germany's economy is much more robust

Is that why numerous businesses in Germany (e.g. Grundig) are going bust, marketplaces in places like Nuremburg etc. are extremely quiet, and people are wanting to hold on to their money for fear of losing it?

Dauphin · January 5, 2004, 20:41

Quote:

Originally posted by monkspider

I thought about giving them an honorable mention but decieded against it.

Good decision. Now no-one will suspect that the Aussies are in fact a military powerhouse.

KrazyHorse · January 5, 2004, 20:43

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Crunch
Where's Australia?

Even we could take Australia...

BeBro · January 5, 2004, 20:43

Quote:

Originally posted by Frozzy

Is that why numerous businesses in Germany (e.g. Grundig) are going bust, marketplaces in places like Nuremburg etc. are extremely quiet, and people are wanting to hold on to their money for fear of losing it?

Nuremberg?

Dauphin · January 5, 2004, 20:45

Quote:

Originally posted by KrazyHorse

Even we could take Australia...

What would tundra dwellers want a big ol' desert for?

KrazyHorse · January 5, 2004, 20:45

Is Israel that high?

Only because of nukes or do their conventional forces rate?

They might have good quality but do they have the quantity to fight a Pakistan or Indonesia?

I really don't think so...

St Leo · January 5, 2004, 20:46

0. Canada
1. Canada
2. Canada
3. Canada
4. Canada
5. Canada.
6. Canada
7. Canada
8. Canada
9. Canada

Next question.

Ted Striker · January 5, 2004, 20:47

Quote:

Originally posted by monkspider
Based on economic strength, military strength, international influence, etc etc.

In order:

1. United States
2. China
3. Japan
4. Germany
5. United Kingdom
6. India
7. Russia
8. France
9. Korea
10. Israel

Any objections?

1. USA
2. UK
3. France
4. Japan
5. Germany
6. Russia
7. China

Dr Strangelove · January 5, 2004, 20:47

Well, how about Canada? How about India?

KrazyHorse · January 5, 2004, 20:48

Also, the Russians should be above India, and so should France.

BeBro · January 5, 2004, 20:50

Quote:

Originally posted by St Leo
0. Canada
1. Canada
2. Canada
3. Canada
4. Canada
5. Canada.
6. Canada
7. Canada
8. Canada
9. Canada

Next question.

Mr. Nice Guy · January 5, 2004, 20:50

Nice list. But you forgot one dimension: Spiritual protection.

In that case I would put Israel at the top of the list.

KrazyHorse · January 5, 2004, 20:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
Well, how about Canada? How about India?

I wouldn't place us on the top ten if we're talking military might. Diplomatically and economically, yes.

Sandman · January 5, 2004, 20:52

1. United States (do I need to say why?)
2. China (the next big thing)
3. Russia (landmass, military power)
4. Japan (still the 2nd economic power)
5. India (the other next big thing)
6=France (About the same)
6=Britain
8. Germany (passive economic power)
9. Brazil (the 3rd 3rd world power)
10. Saudi Arabia (OIL)

KrazyHorse · January 5, 2004, 20:57

First tier powers: USA
Second tier (quality and sufficient quantity to deploy a serious though not invasion-level force): France, UK, Japan, Germany (in that order?)
Second tier (lower quality high quantity): Russia, China
Third tier (no power projection capabilities, strongish defensive capability): S. Korea, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, half a dozen Western European countries, Brazil, Argentina, Israel, Turkey, South Africa
Fourth tier (sitting ducks, though they'd hurt whoever fought them): Iran, NK, Eastern Europe, a couple more Latin American countries
Fifth tier (too unimportant to invade): everybody else

BeBro · January 5, 2004, 20:58

Yeah, but if military and political influence counts as well then Japan is much too high as 4th IMO.

C0ckney · January 5, 2004, 21:34

i think ted got it about right, although i would be tempted to swap russia and japan around.

Ted Striker · January 5, 2004, 21:35

China and India are always way overrated

Pekka · January 5, 2004, 21:43

I don't see Finland in this list.

C0ckney · January 5, 2004, 21:44

you're on a roll today ted

Drogue · January 5, 2004, 22:06

Quote:

Originally posted by monkspider
Based on economic strength, military strength, international influence, etc etc.

In order:

1. United States
2. China
3. Japan
4. Germany
5. United Kingdom
6. India
7. Russia
8. France
9. Korea
10. Israel

Any objections?

UK above Japan and Germany. Our economy is stronger than both, and we have far more influence over the world outside Europe than Germany. Germany and Japan also have no veto on the UN security council. They seem to be in the same position, economic decline, but still powerful, militarily relatively strong, but Germany has more influence due to its position in Europe, and thus goes above, IMHO.

Pakistan needs to go close to India. Smaller, but another nuclear power.

Russia just above Germany and Japan too. Together with France they dominate Europe, and are large nations, though due to Cheznya (sp?) Russia seems to have more on it's hands and so has less effort to use to affect the rest of the world.

I think Korea should come off, sure it's a nuclear power, but it has no legitimate role, no economic strength and has little effect ourside of it's own region.

Canada maybe should be there instead of Israel. Israel dominates headlines more, but Canada controls a lot of the US oil supply and has more economic strength than Israel. Or Australia, which also has a claim to be there. Out of those 3 for the last place. IMHO, Israel is only powerful due to US influence, so goes under US power. It has little power of it's own. Due to NAFTA and the oil to the US, I'd tend to favour Canada. Therefore my list would go:

1. USA
2. China
3. UK
4. Russia
5. Germany
6. Japan
7. France
8. India
9. Pakistan
10. Canada.

Drogue · January 5, 2004, 22:11

Quote:

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
I wouldn't place us on the top ten if we're talking military might. Diplomatically and economically, yes.

I'd do most of it on influence. That is the amalgumation of diplomatic, economic and military power. I'd ask myself "Which can change the world the most". Military power could, but a nation controling the Eurozone like Germany may have more power than a nation with a bigger economy like Japan, or with more troops. Canada would qualify under that, due to it's power with NAFTA, the US oil, it's size and economic power, etc.

Sandman · January 5, 2004, 22:13

Quote:

UK above Japan and Germany. Our economy is stronger than both,

No it's not.