Next Superpower

Both have considerably greater populations, considerably less debt, and by 2050 should have considerably larger economies. Consequently, they'll be able to afford considerably larger armed forces than the UK, and thus overtake it.

Which country, in your opinion is the next superpower? And why?

They already do have larger armed forces than us. So do North Korea?

We could still do them considerable damage with a few Trident warheads dropped on their main cities.

I think China will be the winner, largely because they are buying up Africa in huge amounts.

I predict that eventually Africa will become the world's China, the last major populace to have an industrial revolution will end up being stuck with industry and exporting in my opinion.

Africa will take time to receive huge amounts of investment (China is offering a lot, but largely in terms of agriculture, this will extend to industry, which will largely be Chinese owned) which is in most part due to the unbelievable levels of corruption/turmoil which have haunted Africa for decades.

Eventually, China will, simply through having a larger populace, which will eventually become mainly middle class, will probably win the superpower war. I just can't see India coming back...

On top of that, China relies heavily on the US for exports, and their people are looking to build themselves but also do not hate the US, middle class Chinese families view a western university education as the best thing for instance. Considering these middle class children will become the future leaders and decision makers I have a hard time believing they will be filled with vitriol against the West when they go back. The easiest people to brainwash against are people or culture you don't know.

China is investing heavily in Africa, which is creating results. The main problem with the west was giving charity to Africans rather than truly helping them.

Its like the saying: "give a man a fish, feed him for a day, teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime"

Sure a few western companies went in to mine, but being private corporations they had no mandate to the people and no higher goal in mind so they took what they could and left. Chinese companies are extensions of the government so they came in with both a mining mandate and a political mandate to help the country. They could partner with the established government and create wealth. Its a mutual beneficial relationship because the current government gains legitimacy by creating jobs, stability and the Chinese get a new ally and potential friend in the future.

India won't be able to beat China to become the next superpower, its actually further behind China economically and there is also the difficulties with demographics it has from muslims, hindus, and different regions whereas China is mostly Han. This can create a unifying force and benefits a country aiming to become a super power.

Any country that becomes powerful can also become aggressive and expansionist, just like every other empire in history. Expecting different from any other country is being naive.

The only difference now is we have mutually assured destruction, but what if nuclear weapons could actually be taken out of action or neutralized by one side?

China also receives huge amounts of natural resources from Africa in return for improving the infrastructure. Let's keep it real: China is robbing Africa just like the West has for the last 500+ years, but it's doing so with a smile.



China has a demographic problem of its own, though: too many men, and a really old population.

All China needs to do to solve its demographic problem is to scrap the one child rule, and stop aborting female foetuses.

To be honest it wouldn't be surprising if the EU decides to scrap borders with Africa at some point unless there is some kind of far right resurgence.

All China needs to do to solve its demographic problem is to scrap the one child rule, and stop aborting female foetuses.

To be honest it wouldn't be surprising if the EU decides to scrap borders with Africa at some point unless there is some kind of far right resurgence.

If by robbing africa you mean investing in it then yes. You are so misguided if you think what China is doing is what Europe did to Africa for the last 100 years absolutely crazy.

I don't really care to explain it to you because you will just see for yourself in 10-15 years when the countries supported by China begin developing and the ones that rely on handouts continue with revolution after revolution.

Its happening, and Africa today is like China back in the 1970s. The last major continent to develop is Africa and I believe this century will be the century of the development of Africa, unlike the past century of turmoil, strife and the failures of colonialism.

China's demographic problem isn't as bad as you think, extra men just means more workforce of course there will be issues with finding brides but its not something that would stop the rise of a superpower.

It's birth rate has actually been dropping so while the one child rule may make a difference i'm not sure how much. In South Korea they had the same rule but scrapping it's made no difference and as a result it's the most rapidly aging country on the planet. It's currently 1.2 i think.

Proper Africa would probably be an issue but the Arab World is game for them (Morocco has actually previously applied), especially if skeptic countries like the UK leave because more power goes to the very federalist countries who'll give more power to the parliament.. it's the commission and parliament that would be quite happy to spread.

Have any of you lot taken a look at Kenya, Argentina or Poland?