Talk:Regional power/temp
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Note that bold countries represent the most dominant state in each region while italicized countries represent potential regional powers.
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[edit] North America
North America contains three powerful nations, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The United States is a Superpower while Canada and Mexico are Middle powers; the US is therefore the Regional power. US-Canada ties are close, both countries have highly developed economies and both are core components of the West. On the other hand Mexico-US ties have been facing difficulty partly caused by illegal immigration. During the Clinton administration in 1994, the US, Mexico, and Canada joined the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which created a free trade zone between all three countries. Recently the three nations signed the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.
[edit] Western Europe
Western Europe has never been a place in which one nation has had exclusive dominance and remains that way today. The United Kingdom, France, and more recently Germany have always vied for preeminence in Europe and are considered the three major powers. This rivalry extended both within and outside Europe; the Hundred Years' War, Napoleonic War and the World Wars being prime examples. The growth of colonial empires during the 18th and 19th centuries was almost invariably conducted in competition and in conflict with other European powers. Despite the rivalry, the United Kingdom was considered the most powerful of the three European nations. During the colonial period, the UK boasted the largest colonial empire, hence the popular saying "The sun never sets on the British empire". It is considered by some as the world's sole superpower prior to the end of WWI.
After World War II, the powers of Europe have reformulated their relationships under the co-operative aegis of institutions such as the EU and NATO. Today the major European powers are roughly equivalent in economic power though there are different approaches to foreign policy (e.g., the positions of France and Germany compared with the UK in respect of the 2003 Iraq war). Much like US and Canada, Western European countries feature highly developed economies and are also key components of the West. The United Kingdom in particular features close economic and cultural ties to the United States. When taking into account the power projection and military capabilities of a nation and due to the United Kingdoms formidable and powerful military, highly advanced military technology and second most powerful navy in the world (after the United States), the United Kingdom is considered the regional power. The UK's capability to project power far from home was witnessed in the Falklands War. France is considered the second powerful in terms of military power. Also, France and the UK possess nuclear weapons and have permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council. Germany, although a very powerful state and active member of NATO, lacks the power projection of the UK and France. On the other hand, Germany's economy is the largest in Europe with PPP of $2.5 trillion according to CIA World Factbook.
[edit] Eastern Europe
Russia, previously the most important republic of the Soviet Union, has practically had a sphere of influence over Eastern Europe and Central Asia for most of its history. This sphere of influence was particularly noted during the Cold War era, where most of Eastern Europe was encompassed into its union. There are no other major powers in Eastern Europe and no other nation that has ever been a Superpower. Russia has still a strong say in the foreign affairs of former Soviet States such as the Ukraine and there is a strong Russian diaspora in some of these states. Russia is currently considered a major power. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia's influence in Eastern Europe has decreased considerably, leaving a vacuum for a number of other states, perhaps Poland or the Ukraine, to become regional powers in their own right. Following the dwindling of its influence in the 1990s, Russia has emerged as an energy superpower and is expected to remain the Eastern European power. Russia currently possesses the world's largest arsenal of nuclear weapons and a military more powerful than that of the rest of Eastern Europe's.
[edit] Southern Europe
Italy has been a dominant country in the area since the rise of the Roman Republic after the defeat of Carthage and the fall of the Macedon in Greece. However, its power was challenged by both Spain and Portugal during the European Age of Discovery, and also by the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. In the 1930s, Italy regained its position by aligning itself with Nazi Germany. It further established itself through the fashion capital Milan. Currently, it has the largest GDP per capita in the region. Italy is located around the center of the mediterranean sea.
[edit] East Asia
Historically, China has been the dominant nation in East Asia. After a period of falling behind Imperial Japan from the late 19th to 20th century, China has since progressed to the state of being considered an emerging superpower. It has historical and cultural influences over Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other Asian countries. It has a strong military that is causing concern for some of its neighbors, a rapidly growing economy, the largest population in the world, and an ancient culture. China now has the second largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity, [1]though it still lags behind Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan in terms of per capita GDP,
[edit] Southeast Asia
Being set between the two great powers China and India, Southeast Asia has no true regional powers. Historically, power has constantly changed; from the Javanese kingdoms of Indonesia, to the Buddhist Kingdom of Siam, now known as Thailand and also to an extent, Myanmar. The original countries of ASEAN (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand) are the de facto regional powers. Indonesia is the biggest economic power in the region, followed by Thailand. Vietnam is considered an emerging regional power in this region given its rapidly growing economy, large population base, and a relatively strong military.
[edit] South Asia
South Asia, also known as the Indian Subcontinent, consists of one major country India and other smaller countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. India and Pakistan have traditionally been rivals in the region. In the 20th century, there were several major conflicts in the region, such as the Sino-Indian War, the Indo-Pakistani Wars, the Bangladesh Liberation War from Pakistan, and the 1999 Kargil War. Historically, Pakistan and Bangladesh were part of India (before the Partition of India). India is the only country in the world which has a strategic alliance with Russia. It has a strong military and a fast growing economy, with demographic, geographical and cultural power—a continuing ancient culture that has seen the creation of four major world religions. India is sometimes considered the second most powerful state in Asia after China due to its size, large population base, and rapidly growing economy.
[edit] Middle East
There is no obvious regional power in the Middle East, especially after the instability following the fall of the former regimes of Afghanistan and Iraq. There are three Middle power states with considerable power and influence in the region: Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. (These are ranked by the NMC scores from the Correlates of War Project.[2])
Turkey more easily fits the traditional definition of a regional power, with by far the largest military budget, the highest GDP, and also the largest population and a relatively stable secular democratic government. Its influence is more effective out of Middle East region, with the Turkish Armed Forces involvement in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Somalia, and Lebanon. Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952, which is seen as the strongest Inter-Military Cooperation Power in the world. Turkey is a member of G20, which is a group consisting of 19 of the world's largest economies. As of 2006, Turkey is in accession negotiations to join the European Union which is an emerging superpower already. Turkey is the successor to the Ottoman Empire which was considered a Great Power spreading over three continents for over six hundred years. If Turkey joins the European Union and the European sphere, it might trade its influence on Middle Eastern and Central Asian nations for European ones, effectively changing regions.
Iran can be considered a regional power, because of its large size, population, and growing economy. It is becoming more self sufficient in military and less reliant on oil exports. Iran has a large diaspora and strong ties to major powers like China, India, and Russia. Iran as the key Shia country has strong influence on other countries with large Shia population like Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Bahrain and Azerbaijan. Iran's economy is much larger than that of neighboring Arab countries and Israel, and its population, GDP and GDP per capita are roughly the same as neighboring Turkey. Iran has a long and impressive history, coming from its ancestor Persian Empire (arguably the world's first superpower) and its successive empires. Iran is also seen by many people in Western Asia and the greater Muslim world for standing up to what some perceive as American arrogance and influence. Iran's 2005 military budget was estimated to be $6.3 billion by London's International Institute for Strategic Studies which is smaller than Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and even Israel. Still, Iran's military was called the Middle East's most powerful by the senior U.S. commander in the region. [1] If the country obtains nuclear weapons its power would increase, although looking at the example of Germany, Iran does not necessarily need nuclear weapons to become the regional power.
Iran and Turkey have been cited in the American Journal of Science as the two Muslim nations that conduct scientific research and publish research papers, while much of the rest of the Muslim world lags behind.
Saudi Arabia has large military spending, a sizable population and with great influence not only in the region but in the Islamic world as a whole for having Mecca and Madina the most holy places in Islam, and with a strong albeit non-diversified economy. With a higher GNP than Turkey and Iran and military spending nearly equal to that of Turkey (and surpassing all others in the region), Saudi Arabia makes a case for its regional power.
[edit] Africa
Egypt asserts power and rule in the Arab world of Northern Africa. It's known for its great economic policies and the progressive growth that has been going on for years. Firstly, Egypt boasts an ancient history like no other, with the pyramids as symbols of this nation's rich history before the origin of Islam. Egypt has the second biggest economy in all of Africa, after South Africa, and the second biggest economy in the Arabic speaking world, after Saudi Arabia. Further, Egypt has sizable influence on the rest of the Arab world. Its largest weaknesses as a potential regional power are its potentially explosive political governments and diplomatic problems with neighboring African countries, and also Arab nations in North Africa and Western Asia (for example in 1979 when Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel).
South Africa has the most power to the south, economically, militarily and politically. It's been growing at a great pace for an African economy for the last decade. It has exerted a lot of pressure in what it's interested in. An example is the most recent Eassy cable connections, where its intentions were thwarted by Kenya's influence in the greater Eastern Africa. South Africa was isolated by other African nations and the world at large for the racist, oppressive policies of the white minority–led Apartheid government. After the white Apartheid government relinquished power in 1994, South Africa under a new democratic government is seen as the strongest nation in the continent. It has great influence in African policies, both militarily and economically. A member of the African Union, the country dealt with issues of other African nations like DR Congo, Sudan, Chad, Zimbabwe, Angola, and many others. Oil-rich Angola, with a surprisingly fast economic growth rate of 19.9% (according to CIA World Factbook, the second fast growing economy in 2005 and fastest in Africa) is a contender to become a power in Southern Africa.
Nigeria to the west has the biggest population in Africa meaning increased man power hence big leaps in economic structures.Its main reliance is oil, known as sweet crude for having the list processes of refining it. It is a member of the OPEC organization. Nigeria has a sizable military capability and appetizing economic reforms.This has led to the over-reliance on oil that is seen to be a near-future negative impact on the economy.On more positive note,Nigeria is also among the fast growing economies in Africa.
Generally, the three main powers have economic strength. Their military capabilities are not know, except for South Africa. Their political fields are more far-fetched. They are less than perfect according to the UN watchdogs for the political freedoms around the globe.
[edit] South America
Brazil is a middle power, and the regional power in South America. Brazil is a historically rich land that has a decent economy and good foreign relations with the United States, the world's only superpower. Its decisions to limit its military growth means that it has good relations with all of the other nations in its region. Brazil's geographical location and area as well as its population make it the strongest power in South America.
[edit] Oceania
Australia is the regional power of Oceania, a region composed primarily of island states. The next most influential state is New Zealand, which is a substantially smaller nation than Australia by all quantifiable measures. Australia has strong connections with the UK and Commonwealth, the United States and the broader West. Australia and New Zealand as members of the anglosphere are collectively an integral part of the foreign policy of nations like the United States and United Kingdom.
Australia's large uranium deposits are attracting attention from emerging Superpowers like China and India. It has a stable and strong economy, democratic government and has the strongest regional military, which is involved in peacekeeping duties both locally and abroad. Aside from Oceania, Australia's interests and influence also extends to Southeast Asia. However, its military and economy are not influential enough to enable it to make an international stand on African, Asian, and Latin American issues.
