I crafted up a little list:
- United States of America (STABLE)
- People's Republic of China (QUICKLY RISING)
- Russian Federation (FALLING)
- Republic of India (QUICKLY RISING)
- Republic of Japan (QUICKLY FALLING)
- Federal Republic of Germany (FALLING)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (FALLING)
- French Republic (FALLING)
- Federative Republic of Brazil (STABLE)
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (STABLE)
- Republic of Korea (QUICKLY FALLING)
- Republic of Indonesia (QUICKLY RISING)
- Republic of Turkey (RISING)
- Italian Republic (QUICKLY FALLING)
- United States of Mexico (RISING)
- State of Israel (RISING)
- Federal Republic of Nigeria (RISING)
- Federal Republic of Iran (RISING)
- Islamic Republic of Pakistan (RISING)
- Canada (RISING)
I think it's pretty clear that the Top 5 should be US, China, Russia, Germany, and France/UK. India is not at the same level - and Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Mexico are ranked too high as well. Just like most other non-European countries. What about the Netherlands instead? A country with a GDP (1.01 trillion USD) much larger than Turkey's (794 bn), Iran's (682 bn), Nigeria's (514 bn), South Africa's (329 bn), or Pakistan's (306 bn) that has lots(!) of influence in both the EU and the UN, and is home to major global companies such as Shell and Airbus.
It seems that many countries on this list are just there because of sheer population size or the "emerging power" label. But in reality, their power is extremely limited - bei it diplomatically, economically, financially, or culturally. Being a relatively big fish in a very small pond (i.e., Nigeria) is not tantamount to real power in any meaningful sense.
Also, Germany is not "falling" and neither is France. But Israel, Brazil, or Saudi Arabia might be.
