China

Brazil

France

European Union

Emerging Super Powers Of The World

China The People's Republic of China (PRC) is often considered an emerging

superpower due to its

Large and stable population

Its rapidly growing economy

Military spending and capabilities.

But it has several economic, political, and demographic problems which need to be overcome to be considered as a superpower. It is not yet as influential on the international stage as the United States or the former Soviet Union.

Demographic factors

Territorial size The People's Republic of China covers a total area of approximately

9.6 millions km² which is the third largest in the world. Natural resources

China's land possesses vast wealth's of valuable natural resources such as coal, oil, and minerals. In view of PRC's extensive river network and mountainous terrain, there is ample potential for the production of hydroelectric power.

Population size China's population is the world's largest, with about 1.3 billion

citizens. With the global human population currently estimated at about 6.5 billion, China is home to approximately 20%.

Military factors

The 2.25-million-strong People's Liberation Army makes it the largest military in the world, in terms of sheer number of troops (13.25 million if the People's Armed Police and the Militia are included.

However, the PLA is behind advanced Western militaries in many areas. Recognizing this fact, the PRC is undergoing a massive effort to improve and modernize its military technology, equipment, and power projection capabilities.

As part of its overall program of naval modernization, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy has a long-term plan of developing a blue water navy.

Political influence

China and the United Nations As one of the five permanent members of the United Nations

Security Council with veto power, the PRC possesses influence in world politics.

International influence The PRC is gradually increasing its influence in areas which are

traditionally dominated by the influence of Western countries. Its ties with these countries have become closer driven by strengthening economic bond through trade and strategic investment, and to a much lesser extent, military cooperation.

Political influence

Influence in East Asia Mainland China is Japan's, South Korea's and Taiwan's largest trading partner.

Growing trade and investment have given the PRC a greater politico-economic leverage over Mongolia. The PRC also has a considerable influence in the military, economy, and politics of North Korea.

Influence in Central Asia As the Chinese economy grows, a major priority is securing natural resources

to keep pace with demand. China has made energy trading deals with Central Asian nations. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, of which the PRC is a founding member, is also becoming increasingly important in Central Asian security and politics. Some observers believe the PRC is primarily concerned with securing its borders as it emerges as a world power.

ECONOMICAL FACTOR

Technology China is the world's second biggest spender on research and development,

and is expected to invest over $136 billion in 2006 after growing more than 20% in 2005.

China currently has an estimated 926,000 researchers, second in number only to the 1.3 million in the United States. R&D spending by the PRC government has more than tripled since 1998.

Moreover, the numbers of the scientific research paper doubled in the same period.

According to experts, China might produce more engineering doctorates than the U.S. in 2010.

Many foreign companies are setting up R&D centres in China due to official government support and to tap lower-cost Chinese talents

THE FUTURE OF CHINA

As China emerges as the next superpower, public opinion in the West seems split over how this event should be treated.

A policy of openly engaging China encourages establishing a wide range of contacts with the hope of having some influence.

China has also used its economic boom and change in military strategy to commence an ambitious military modernization program.

The PLAAF is acquiring some of the most advanced fighter/bomber aircraft and weapons in the world.

They are also purchasing state of the art air defence systems and developing supporting air craft roles such as in-flight refueling and airborne early warning.

China has an active submarine replacement program in place and has purchased Russian Kilo-class submarines.

THE FUTURE OF CHINA

It is clear that China's economic and military transformation has been aimed at challenging the balance of power that has existed in the region since World War Two.

China has demonstrated hegemonic intentions through its territorial claims in the South China Sea and in its recent actions against Taiwan.

If the current transformation continues, China will have, in the future, the economic and military might to threaten both the countries in the region and the West.

With its ongoing effort to develop a high technology economic system, China has set the foundation that will likely ensure that it is much stronger than the former Soviet Union and perhaps even more powerful than the US.

According to at least one estimate, China's economy will surpass that of the U.S. by 2021.

“Yao Yang, Director of the China Centre for Economic Reform at Peking University, recently told CNN: "Assuming that the Chinese and U.S. economies grow, respectively, by 8% and 3% in real terms, that China's inflation rate is 3.6% and America's is 2% (the averages of the last decade), and that the renminbi appreciates against the dollar by 3% per year (the average of the last six years), China would become the world's largest economy by 2021. By that time, both countries' GDP will be about $24 trillion.”

European Union

European Union

The European Union is a politico-economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe.

It covers an area of 4,324,782 km², with an estimated population of over 508 million.

Economic

The economy of the European Union generates a GDP (nominal) of about €14.3 trillion (US$18.5 trillion in 2014) and a GDP (PPP) of about €12.7 trillion (US$16.8 trillion in 2014) according to the International Monetary Fund which makes it the largest or second largest economy in the world’.

The European Union is the largest exporter in the world and as of 2008 the largest importer of goods and services.

The euro area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 12.1% in November 2013

Armed Forces

The military of the European Union comprises the various cooperative structures that have been established between the armed forces of the member states,

The policy area of defence is principally the domain of nation states, and the main military alliance in Europe remains the intergovernmental North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), which includes 22 of the EU member states together with four non-EU European countries

Nuclear Program

The European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) is an international organisation founded in 1957 with the purpose of creating a specialist market for nuclear power in Europe

The EU depends on nuclear power for more than one-quarter of its electricity, and a higher proportion of base-load power. Nuclear provides over half of low-carbon electricity.

Nuclear power plants generate almost 30% of the electricity produced in the EU. There are 130 nuclear reactors in operation in 14 EU countries.

Foreign policy

Although there has been a large degree of integration between European Union member states, foreign relations is still a largely inter-governmental matter, with the 28 members controlling their own relations to a large degree. However, with the Union holding more weight as a single bloc

Brazil

Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in both South America and the Latin American region. It is the world's fifth-largest country, both by geographical area and by population.

Bounded by the Portuguese Empire. Brazil remained a Portuguese colony until 1808

Independence was achieved in 1822 with the creation of the Empire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system.

Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 km (4,655 mi). It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile and occupies 47.3 percent of the continent of South America

Emerging Factors

Following are the main emerging factors of Brazil

Nuclear program

Foreign policy

Military

Economy

Nuclear program

In order to meet the projected demand for nuclear power, Brazil has launched a large nuclear energy programme that calls for an installed nuclear power capacity of about 10000 MW(e) by the early 1990's

The programme not only calls for the construction of nuclear power plants but also for the development of an integrated nuclear industry, from uranium mining to enrichment and fuel reprocessing.

It Was Bilateral Agreement B/w Germany And Brazil

Foreign policy

Brazil's international relations are based on Article 4 of the Federal Constitution, which establishes non-intervention, self-determination, international cooperation and the peaceful settlement of conflicts

Brazil's foreign policy is a by-product of the country's unique position as a regional power in Latin America, a leader among developing countries, and an emerging world power

In addition, Brazil manages a peacekeeping mission in Haiti ($350 million) and makes in-kind contributions to the World Food Programme ($300 million).

Military

The armed forces of Brazil are the second largest in Latin America by active personnel and the largest by the level of military equipment.[176] It consists of the Brazilian Army (including the Army Aviation Command), the Brazilian Navy (including the Marine Corpsand Naval Aviation), and the Brazilian Air Force.

As Brazil adopts conscription, its military is one of the world's largest with effective estimated at more than 1 600 000 men ages reservist per year GRUMEC, unit specially trained to protect Brazilian oil platforms along its coast

It has built a tradition of participating in UN peace keeping missions such as in Haiti and East Timor.

Economy

Brazil is the largest national economy in Latin America, the world's eight largest economy at market exchange rates and the seventh largest in purchasing power parity (PPP), according to the International Monetary Fund and the World Ban

The Brazilian economy has been predicted to become one of the five largest in the world in the decades to come,

Brazil has a labour force of over a 107 million (ranking 6th worldwide) and unemployment of 6.2% (ranking 64th worldwide).

France

France

Until the First World War, the French troops were the leading military in the world.

The French had the finest navy in the 19th C. after the Royal Navy, taking an active role in many areas of warship development and with the introduction of new technologies.

France pioneered numerous technologies, including the first steam-powered battleship in history, La Gloire, the first submarine in the world to be propelled by mechanical power, Plongeur or the first steel-hulled warship ever, the Redoutable.

If the US is arguably the world’s first military superpower, France is still a player to be reckoned with. Here is why the French armed forces matter.

An Army Of Professionals Only

Since 1998, France reformed its enrolment system to only accept volunteers.

It has restructured its defence forces to develop a professional military that will be smaller yet more rapidly deployable, and better tailored for operations outside of mainland France.

Many Army veterans lament that a professional army has broken the link between the armed forces and civil society. But the changes were beneficial: the end of conscription led to the formation of a high-level professional army, adapted to modern needs.

A Nuclear Power

The French Nuclear Force is the third largest nuclear-weapons force in the world, after Russia and the United States.

France has deactivated all its nuclear bases and downsized its nuclear arsenal to promote efforts against nuclear proliferation.

But there are still 290 warheads, comprising of a triad of air-based, land-based and sea-based weapons.

In addition to its military nuclear program, France also has a large peaceful nuclear program and ranks as one of the world’s largest generators of nuclear power.

A Space Power

France was the third space power to achieve access to space, sharing technologies with Europe to develop the Ariane launcher family.

France’s Space Agency, the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) is under the responsibility of the Minister of Defence and operates out of Toulouse and French Guiana.

Today, the CNES is involved in both civil (Galileo) and commercial (the new versions of Ariane 5 can launch large satellites for commercial uses, activities and actively contributes to the International Space Station and European Space Agency

World-Class Armament And Badass Toys France is one of the world’s premier weapons manufacturing countries

today, giving the world such iconic weapons as Mistral warships and Rafale planes.

France is the only country, with Russia, to possess a self-contained SAM system capable of firing radar guided missiles (the ‘Crotale’) or boast the only nuclear powered aircraft carrier outside the US Navy (the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier).

In addition, France is the third country in the world after the US and Russia, to develop and deploy long range Land Attack Cruise Missiles on its warships (the ‘Scalp’).