Superpower status typically includes a variety of “powers”—military, economic, political, and “soft” or cultural. In this regard, a country may become a superpower as the result of a event, such as World War II, or because of its strong economy, political system, or cultural popularity.
Historically, after World War II, America and the Soviet Union became the world’s superpowers. Following the end of the Cold War in 1991, the U.S. became the world’s sole superpower.
Recent events appear to point to the waning of America’s superpower stature. In the aftermath of the Iraq War, burgeoning Government debt, a dramatically-slowing economy, and the decline of its “soft” power as a result of the Bush-Cheney preemptive war and associated moral abuses, such as Abu Ghraib, some Americans feel that their country’s global “triple-A” rating has been severely damaged.
Others see the rise of new superpowers, including China, the European Union, India, and Russia. China, for example, is not only America’s “banker” but has also gained strength and influence by buying up world supplies of oil, minerals, and other commodities. Some consider that, thanks to the Iraq War, Iran has become a regional power. Still others think that the superpower concept is outmoded and that the world is or should be multipolar.
Depending on whom you’re talking with, you’ll hear different perspectives on America as a superpower. For example, if you’re speaking with a member of the “greatest generation”—those who grew up during the Great Depression, fought in or otherwise contributed to the war effort associated with World War II, and helped build the U.S. into a superpower—he or she might express regret concerning recent changes, including Wall Street and executive greed, lazy young people, and outsourcing to foreign nations. If you’re talking with “Baby Boomers”—who are the children of the “greatest generation” and now in their late 40s and 50s—they may feel that American lost some of its moral authority during the Vietnam War but still managed to recover. As a result, they may have hope for the future, even though they recognize the current challenges that the U.S. faces. Members of subsequent generations, such as “Gen X” and “Gen Y,” who’ve lived in prosperous times their entire lives, may appear, alternately, unworried, excited about the first African-American President, or more concerned with their own lives and, therefore, less concerned about the country and its superpower status.
Lastly, the relatively rare American who is a student of history and who is informed about the world may express his or her thoughts about America’s future, including how it should rebuild economically and educationally, address the growing gap between the haves and the have nots, tackle problems like health care and the social welfare system, deal with an increasingly-diverse society, and remake its image around the world.
In sum, the opinions you’ll hear about America as a superpower are as diverse as the American nation itself. So, by listening, you’ll learn a great deal about where America has been, where it is, and where it might be headed.
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