If WW2 never happened, and we assume gradual decolonization later than OTL, would there still be a superpower(s) like the OTL USA or USSR? Or would the world be more evenly divided into various regional powers? What would be the power status of the former colonial powers by the 21st centuries?
Would there be superpower(s) if no WWII?
- Thread starter Berkeley2017
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ben0628
Banned
Does WW1 still happen in this scenario? Does Hitler not come to power? What about the rise of Stalin?
Although probably not a political super power, the US would still become an economic superpower.
Also, China might end up with a different political system (if communist China never happens, it'd be a lot wealthier, but still not a first world nation).
Although probably not a political super power, the US would still become an economic superpower.
Also, China might end up with a different political system (if communist China never happens, it'd be a lot wealthier, but still not a first world nation).
The term before WWII was Great Power, it is the same thing as a superpower.
ben0628
Banned
Disagree. USA and USSR post WW2 are far more powerful/influential than the Great Powers of WW1.
'Superpower' and Great Power are terms which easily coexist. As a shorthand, (not necessarily the only one) a superpower is a nation who's influence will be felt any place on Earth barring those it is excluded from by another superpower. A Great Power on the other hand is a nation which has an inalienable 'seat at the table' in a given strategic system i.e. its interests cannot be ignored. The US/USSR are the only two superpowers to have ever existed, China is not there yet and even though it will soon (10-20 years) outmuscle the US in East Asia the relevant quality is global reach. An example of 'Great Power' under this definition would be a nation like modern Japan. Japan is no superpower, and is dwarfed by China and the US. Nevertheless in any major crisis in the East Asian strategic system Japan is impossible to ignore or sideline*. Other nations however can be ignored, if it is in the interests of the Great/Super powers. A country like Vietnam, for instance, is no slouch but conceivably could be sold down the river if it suited all the major players to do so.
*Obviously there is one way; defeat them in a war. This is of course knocking them down a peg from Great Power status to whatever you want to call the next rung.
*Obviously there is one way; defeat them in a war. This is of course knocking them down a peg from Great Power status to whatever you want to call the next rung.
A "superpower" needs a global military, influence and economic reach, having no WW2 makes that hard.
-USA: Would stay more focused on itself and the Pacific ocean.
-Soviet Union: Does not expand and does not get to export its ideology.
-Germany: Getting Eastern/South-Eastern Europe into its economical and influential orbit but that's it.
-UK/France: As decolonization gains steam they're losing global reach and influence.
-Japan/China: Still staring each other down.
-USA: Would stay more focused on itself and the Pacific ocean.
-Soviet Union: Does not expand and does not get to export its ideology.
-Germany: Getting Eastern/South-Eastern Europe into its economical and influential orbit but that's it.
-UK/France: As decolonization gains steam they're losing global reach and influence.
-Japan/China: Still staring each other down.