World Powers

I write this post because I have not articulated well enough in the recent past. My concerns about world powers are outlined below. We cannot ignore a machination from any of the powers listed below. We must deal with each of them realistically. Better if we did this collaboratively in my opinion.

Defining a world power is tricky. Most of the time we call nations with huge military capabilities superpowers. These would include China, Russia and the United States. This definition, however, excludes other powerful nations who play important roles in managing the global community and the collective peace. Such nations would include India, the grouping of European nations comprising NATO, as well as other national groupings focusing on South America, and Africa. These ‘others’ are important allies of the superpowers and should never be forgotten.

There are other superpowers in existence. These are not nations or treaty members, but industries that comprise significant market presence which governs the accessibility of their products. Oil is one such industry. Automotive conglomerates are another, I think. Then there is the information technology industry and the electronics industry that support much of the other industries.

One may also consider significant current events as a world power. Certainly, global climate change is such a topic. This issue controls all nations and their peoples. Pollution of our ecosystem is another world power, and it extends to space and the junk accumulating from exploration and exploitation. Mankind’s interventions with the natural world can and most likely will affect everything living on the planet. We ignore this world power at our own risk.

With those ‘world powers’ identified, we now look at how they interact with one another. How is their power expressed and transacted on the world stage?

Russia: rattles swords to unsettle individual nations; attempts to build back old USSR; develops new military weapons to unsettle the world community; menaces space exploring nations; threatens polar military control. Wields power via threat, bully tactics.

China: buys up raw materials in poor nations and influences their economies to their own ends; weakens those nations and makes them dependent on China’s purchasing power; threatens South China Sea nations with military buildup; threatens and menaces Taiwan with hostile takeover. Expands military development and capabilities; menaces space exploring nations with hostile attitudes. Acts as if they are the wronged party and postures defensively.

USA: shares trading relationships with a global market; enriches other nations so they are stable trading partners in the future; responds quickly to humanitarian emergencies and needs; shares technology and know-how with other nations to maintain collaborative relationships; partners with other nations in space to advance humankind’s future. Yes, the US has dominated trading markets but only because our size is so large compared with smaller partners. I do not think that has been an American foreign relations tactic. Perhaps I am wrong?

NATO: combines multiple nations to create a protective shield from superpowers like Russia and China. In doing that NATO nations have good economic partner relationships.

OIL: still doesn’t understand oil is an energy source from the past and new energy sources must be developed to counteract climate change. Oil industry continues to block commercial trades that would weaken value of oil stocks and deter progress in alternative energies. Prolongs climate change threats to the detriment of all planet life.

Electronics: wide open commercial trade where trade secrets are easily pirated. Intellectual property rights threatened continually, however, this quickens the competitive urge to find new technologies and maintain commercial strengths. With electronic advancements, humanity gains. Competitive pressures could lead to military hostilities if markets hijacked or unfairly manipulated.

Climate Change: Trumps all other power centers with the reality that the planet could be unable to sustain human life in the near term. If all inhabitants of the planet cooperate and actively collaborate, we will survive. If we do not, we die. Climate change solutions could extend life on the planet if we collaborate with one another in peace.

Playing nicely with one another has always been the best policy. End of story.

November 22, 2021

 

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