In the future, which country will be the biggest THREAT to the USA's global super power position?

Answer 1

The USA...

Answer 2

The unipolarity of the USA has many threats, but the largest two are:
* China, a rapidly industrializing nation beginning to throw its weight around as a regional power;
* The European Union, a transitory entity once like a trade agreement and rapidly approaching (weak) statehood.

Now while there are benefits to being the only superpower, there are also benefits in not being one -- it's draining on resources, for one. The trouble here is that while unipolarity and bipolarity are well-studied, tripolarity (if the other two ascend at similar times) is not. Most of the work done on it was in the 1960s and 1970s, assuming the USSR, the USA, and China would be the poles.

Other possibilities: India, a democratic regional power with a (relatively!) budgeoning middle class, Brazil, another rapidly growing regional power; Japan, a wealthy regonal power starting to become a military force in the region, and the USA through introversion. India is too divided (15? official languages?) and insufficiently militerized at the moment. Brazil hasn't looked far beyond the Americas yet. Japan is busy holding off Chinese aggression to develop worldwide power, and is in a disadvantaged position in the UN (high dues, low power). Introversion is possible; if it was done immediately England, China, Japan, Germany, and possibly France would likely be the poles.

Answer 3

China if they chose aggression, but that is not their history or their culture.

Most countries are becoming Americanized, so the current political landscape will be very different in 40 years.

Saudi Arabia will prove far more vexing because the power of the royal family there will be broken by Jihadi revolutionary forces.

It will cause trouble, but will not supplant American hegemony.

Longer term problems may come from mega corporations who employ thousands of "security personel" (mercenaries) and who will be finaced by space exploitation, but that is a full century away.

Answer 4

That's almost too easy. It has to be China. If the Chinese government ever stops fooling around and figures out a way to effectively harness the free enterprise system among two billion people, the Chinese will rapidly become one of the two most powerful nations in the world. Government bureaucracy, and the sheer stupidness of the communist system--and before that other totalitarian systems--have kept the Chinese people subjugated for centuries. Perhaps one day their creative energy will be released.

Answer 5

China will be the biggest threat. They have a billion people who are just finding out how much economic, political, and social power then have. Give them less then 10 yrs and we maybe looking up to them

Answer 6

It won't be a country it will be the American people who bring down the USA. Americans do not back their government or its military and do not mind posting their hatred for it on sites like this one. All American principles are questioned or said to be outdated. I don't get it , this is a great country maybe we shouldn't have taken the pledge out of our schools , Oh sorry it mentions God doesn't it.

Answer 7

China

Answer 8

China, hands down. They have tremendous resources, are rapidly developing the infrastructure they need to exploit them, and are smart enough to be building alternative energy sources as they develop that infrastructure. They export products much more cheaply than we do. They are pouring money into scientific studies, wooing top-notch people to well-funded programs, while we are politicizing science and cutting funding. They no longer tie their currency to the dollar as anything but a yardstick. The handwriting is on the wall on this one, folks!

Answer 9

China is already it. They have a military that is powerful and the US economy depends severely on theirs to be able to sustain ourselves. China's becoming more present in the Americas and quickly establishing themselves militarity and economically around the world. UNfortunately, the dumb nuts in Washington are too busy discussing gays marrying and flag burning to pay attention.

Answer 10

Red China!

Answer 11

Jamaica