The World's Most Powerful Nation in the 21st Century?

[ottermax]

The U.S. looks to be the most powerful nation for quite awhile. China looks like it could become as strong as the USSR was in reality, but on more friendly terms with the United States. With an increasingly boundless technological innovations we could see unions of nations that are not even nearby like Japan, Australia, and Europe.

Latin America look like it will remain dominated by the U.S., but it is getting its act together currently and there is not a whole lot to divide the region (look how peaceful Latin America is compared with the rest of the world). Brazil will probably dominate unless all the Spanish speaking nations can unite.

Africa is not looking bright in the future and undoubtedly has become the center for the American-Chinese rivalry, although it appears that China is winning more friends with its money instead of military. America most definitely needs to invest in Africa, but clearly Africa won't bring out any world powers.

Europe won't come together most likely and will remain a high standard of living sort of place, but still overshadowed by American wealth and might and the upcoming Chinese power.

Russia is... looking to be falling apart...

India is a wildcard. Nobody is sure where its headed, but it seems possible it could gain impressive power. We will just have to wait and see.

I see more of a U.S. domination for the next 10-30 years, then a U.S. domination with a significant second power from China. After 50 years it probably won't be clear who is the most powerful, but China and the U.S. will share the title of world power. From then on is dependent on what happens between 2009 and 2060.