drajjay:
At the dawn of the 21st century, the United States of America bestrode the world as the sole remaining superpower. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union a decade earlier American military and economic might dwarfed that of its rivals. American culture, from music, to film, to the blue jeans they exported around the world were hungrily consumed. The political scientist Francis Fukuyama declared it to be the triumph of liberal democracy and the end of history.

However, the balance of global power is in a state of constant flux. The USA will remain a superpower for as long as can reasonably be foreseen, but other nations are closing the gap. Economists predict that within a few decades America’s economic dominance will be eclipsed. Other nations might attempt to rival the US in military force. In this list we look at 10 potential superpowers of the 21st century.

10. Saudi Arabia



Saudi Arabia is the 12th largest country in the world, and in terms of natural resources the second richest. The Middle Eastern kingdom sits on huge reserves of oil and natural gas worth something in the region of an astonishing $34.4 trillion.

This wealth of natural resources provides both financial and political capital. As the most influential member of OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the Saudis have considerable influence over the global supply and price of petroleum. With most countries in the world still heavily dependent on oil, this is no small consideration for friends and foes of the kingdom alike.

In recent years Saudi Arabia has added a substantial military capability to its arsenal, with spending that exceeds all other nations apart from America, China, and Russia. In 2015 Saudi Arabia led a coalition of nine African and Middle Eastern nations to war in Yemen. This demonstrated that the Saudis were prepared to use their growing military strength, and that they possessed enough influence to convince several allies to assist them.

With the Western powers becoming less influential in the Middle East, there is an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to become the defining power in the region. From there it could potentially go on to become global a superpower.

9. Iran



The Middle East might just have room for one superpower, but there isn’t room for two. Saudi Arabia’s interests will increasingly collide with those of Iran, another regional power with big ambitions. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran are Islamic countries. However, the Saudis are majority Sunni Muslims, and about 90% of Iranians are Shias. The two groups, and the two countries, tend not to get along well.

Iran spent most of the 1980s locked in conflict with neighboring Iraq. With the 2003 American-led invasion of Iraq plunging the country into chaos, and wiping it out as a regional power, Iran has looked to profit. The Iranian Government has funded rebel groups and done its best to ensure Iraq remains fractured and destabilized. A weakened Iraq serves Iran well, and the immediate goal seems to be to bring Iraq’s vast oilfields under direct or indirect Iranian control. This would vastly increase Iran’s power and influence, both in the Middle East and across the world.

Despite a well-educated population of more than 80 million, the world’s fourth largest oil reserves, an advanced nuclear program, and an increasingly hi-tech military, American led sanctions remain a substantial drag factor on Iran’s economy. According to the IMF they may have wiped as much as 15-20% from Iranian GDP since 2011. If and when these sanctions are lifted and the economy is unshackled, Iran might quickly become a major force to be reckoned with.
[s]
8. Nigeria



The West African nation of Nigeria is beset by problems. It’s widely regarded as one of the most corrupt nations, with Nigerian princes having become synonymous with internet scammers. An estimated 89 million Nigerians, more than a third of the entire population, live in poverty, and their numbers are increasing. A severe https://www.toptenz.net/10-potential-global-superpowers.php[/s]

drajjay:
[s]A severe brain drain is under way as doctors and other professionals flee the country for better opportunities elsewhere. Meanwhile the government has been unable to quell an armed insurgency by the fanatical Islamic fighters of Boko Haram.

Despite these seemingly insoluble problems Nigeria is a land of immense potential, and it is expected to battle through the chaos to become Africa’s most powerful and influential nation. The process is already underway. Nigeria overtook South Africa as the continent’s largest economy in 2014. While growth in South Africa is expected to remain sluggish, in Nigeria Gross Domestic Product is predicted to more than double from 411 billion dollars in 2018 to one-trillion by 2030.

Nigeria’s growing economic strength will be boosted by its already significant soft power, which is loosely defined as the ability to influence international relations through cultural influence. Nigeria’s soft power rests on its major contributions to various peacekeeping operations, its credentials as a democracy, and an output of music and film admired around Africa and the world.

If Nigeria can take steps to address its endemic problems of corruption and poverty, then its booming population and economy should see it emerge as Africa’s dominant power.[/s]

7. Canada



Over the course of 21st century, climate change is likely to alter the world forever. At its worst it could herald the collapse of civilization as we know it. Even under more optimistic predictions it could reshape global politics and the balance of power.

Even a relatively modest temperature increase over the next on-hundred years could potentially render much of the Middle East uninhabitable, while rising sea levels could wipe out several island nations and leave major coastal cities across the globe submerged.

However, the suffering will not be equally shared. Already the second largest country in the world by area, the amount of available land in Canada will increase as the glaciers that cover around 125,000 square miles of the country melt away to nothing.

In addition to natural resources such as oil, minerals, precious metals, and large quantities of timber, Canada possesses 20% of the world’s freshwater. Many experts believe the major wars of the twenty first century are likely to be fought over diminishing reserves of freshwater, so this will become an increasingly valuable resource to possess in such abundant supply.

Excaperx:
Please remove Nigeria and replace it with Benin kingdom

Osagyefo98:



Lolzzzz

Excaperx:
you are laughing because I didn't mention your precious biafra right?

Excaperx:
Please remove Nigeria and replace it with Benin kingdom

drajjay:
as you can see from the link I provided the original list was not made by a Nigerian.

Excaperx:
Please remove Nigeria and replace it with Benin kingdom

Osagyefo98:


Just delete that thing.


Maybe na one refugee or a Ghanaian from aflawo wrote it.

drajjay:
it's written by an American so please shut it already.

drshrewd:

drshrewd: