How long do you think the United States will be able to hold on to its influential power around the globe?
363520
the time is almost up.
374344
How many people across the globe still consider us the most powerful country as it is? Our reputation is dwindling. (If you ask me, the current administration shoulders the biggest share of blame for this.) Headlines such as "EVERY NATION ON EARTH SIGNS KYOTO AGREEMENT; US REFUSES" are not enhancing our popularity. It's time to stop resting on our laurels.
334707
No, it only gets bigger every day.\n\nIn relation to the US's moral superiority and credibity- those are fading, but that has little to do with being a superpower- USSR had neither, but had as large or larger impact on the world than the US for a long time.\n\nEconomic influence- while our % of oil consumption is decreasing in relation to the whole world, we are still the biggest consumers of oil and everything else worldwide.  That for a country which is only 5% of the worlds population.  Everyone needs to to business with the US.  This is why we will never have real trouble with China, BTW-- they need us to buy things.\n\nMilitary- We are unmatched.  Whenever NATO or the UN decides to do anything, US always carries the lions share of the burden.  The world won't act on anything without us doing most of the work.  Unfortunately that is why we get Rwandas, Bosnias and Somalias-- when we don't get out butt in gear, the rest of the world sits around whining about why the US won't do anything.\n\nPolitics- sucks everywhere. Ours still has more influence because of the two reasons above.\n\nImage- Probably not so great.. all the other countries think we should do things differently.. but again, most of them don't do anything.
722182
USA dictate to the world? can you honestly believe that? since we are the basis for most of the economies in the world you think that we would have a stronger voice but we do not. only time the world wants to hear from us is when we are helping them.
684026
Of course they won't. They don't understand why we have it now. Surely you don't expect that in the next two years:\n1) Their minds will be free of the effects of the mind altering drugs they've been on for the past several decades?\n\n2) The I.Q. fairy will stop by and pay back the 50 points she screwed them out of at birth.\n\n3) They'll finally shut the hell up about Bush and oil long enough to listen to what middle America actually wants in a leader.\n\nTwo hundred years, maybe. Not two.
209193
USA will continue as long as people have faith in democracy and freedom.
958959
Mmm it’s hard to accept this fact, but it's true. The worst of this situation is that is too late to stop this process, and there's nothing we can do. The key for the success in the US was the relation of respect that we had with God and humanity, but at this time the US only cares about wars. Sadly, we'll have to accept the idea that US will collapse sooner or later, and that's when we will realize that we are not alone in this world, because there's others countries and we have to learn how to live together. If Empires like Roman fell down, why the US Empire had to be this exception? This is the hard reality. I just can’t assure you how long will this process take, but it’s for sure that it’ll happen, someday, somehow.
1161815
Right now, there are two global powers: US and China, though US has more military might, both have extensive international influence and contacts. There are three military superpowers: Israel is number one, followed by US, then Russia. There are several economic superpowers: Europe, China, US. There are many regional powers: Brazil, Australia, Japan.\n\nIt would be a good thing for the US to have competing powers. One major bully in the world causes instability (as it does in any group--village, city, state). There needs to be a balance of powers, else you end up with dictatorship and totalitarianism, as you now have in the US internally with no checks on the administraive branch from a one-party government and a Jelly Fish Congress and Judiciary--and a totally kowtowed press.\n\nEurope could emerge in the next twenty years as a military and economic superpower, but China will get there first.
907327
You are absolutely right but unfortunately I don't see it changing anytime soon. History has shown us time and again that as the gap between the haves and the have nots widens, empires crumble. America will ultimately complete its cycle as the dominant world empire and some other empire will rise up to take its place. If our "corporate leaders" were not so focused on short term profit maybe the process can be slowed down somewhat. But in our present economic climate, where worldwide corporations have no allegiance to particular nations, I don't see that happening anytime soon
282023
According to analysts, China will overtake the US around 2020. India will follow. Brazil will wake up one day. And if Europeans are clever, they will keep getting together, in order to have more "weight" in the world issues...
364813
yes.\ni would even go so far to say that are likely to become the next world "hyper" power. (the US is the first recognized hyper power country and was so some time after the fall of USSR)\nchina has said for a long long time they were tired of being treated as a second rate country and were going to emerge as a superpower.  the three gorges dam was just one of many things they started doing to boost themselves.\nthey definitely have a goal and there is no sign that they will reach it.
1119957
I don't think the Empire will crumble for another hundred years or more. That is, if the world survives a hundred years. C'est la vie!
415311
over a hundred year period, America will cease to be the global force that it is today, the chances of Australia taking its place are slim. \n\nThe contenders at the moment seem to be a United Europe, China and India.
581310
Its not likely.\n\nIndeed, its unlikely that any nation will eclipse the United States any time soon.
218313
It seems highly unlikley that the west will be ablew to keep a chockehold on the world forever, although it will be a while yet. Just look at 9/11, and how many westerners are killed in the middle east every day. A lot of people dislike america (and be "america" i mean the allies wholl do anything to keep on her good side cough britain cough) But im british, i live in ebgland, and my father nearly died when lodon was attcked in july. \n\nBut keeping on subject, I dont really understand why china is under such suspicion, they have made no aggresive military movments, no secret nuclear program, and have not yet been blamed for any attcks on america. Its yet another witch hunt, random peole were blamed for deaths of catlle in the 16th/ 17th century, communists blamed for various problems, and now no communist threat? What will do with all this money? Another threat needs to be created, and finally we have found a threat that will never ever leave. People who dislike us. I dont blame them.\n\nSo, no, it wont be a Communist China or a Muslim soceity that destrys us all, who do we have to blame for warmongering, and damging lives but ourselves?
904065
sorry to say we can't... we've f'd up iraq so much now, we have to maintain a presence there for many years to come.
685685
I'm sure it won't go that far, most probably more diplomatic talks between these veto powered nations. Or maybe, USA might back down a bit.