MAJOR POWERS
The countries profiled here are considered to be major world powers: the United States, Russia, China, Germany, France, Japan, and the UK.
All of these countries are leading economic and military powers with great influence on their regions and around the world.
This post will explain what makes each country a major power.
UNITED STATES
WHAT MAKES THE US A MAJOR POWER?
The United States is the world’s the economic and military leader, main cultural exporter, and a leader of tech and innovation.
In geographic size, it’s one of the largest in the world, (close in area to China,) and its population of about 340 million is third largest in the world after China and India.
The US economy is the largest in the world, and it is the largest importer of goods and services, and second largest exporter after China.
The country is rich in natural resources including coal (significant during the Industrial Revolution), timber, natural gas, and gold. It is a top producer of crude oil and petroleum.
Its military is the strongest in the world, and its nuclear arsenal is the second largest in the world, after Russia’s.
The Unites States has been the most powerful country in the world since the fall of its rival the Soviet Empire in 1989, and has been a superpower since the end of World War II, when it emerged from the war wealthier and more industrialized than the devastated European and Asian powers.
RUSSIA
WHAT MAKES RUSSIA A MAJOR POWER?
One of the world’s larger economies, with the second most powerful military in the world and the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, Russia is the largest country in the world geographically, straddling both Europe and Asia, and has a population of about 140 million, larger than any other European country.
The land is extremely rich in natural resources like oil, natural gas, metals and minerals, although it is relatively inhospitable to agriculture. A vast portion of the land is uninhabitable; most of the population is located in the West on the European continent.
The country was communist from the early 20th century until the collapse of the Soviet Union; today the government is a republic under a centralized authoritarian government.
CHINA
WHAT MAKES CHINA A MAJOR POWER?
China is the largest country in the world by population, with the world’s second largest economy after the US, the world’s largest standing army, and a nuclear arsenal. It is second only to the US in global influence, and for over a decade, has been the largest exporter of goods in the world.
China is one of the largest countries in the world geographically and has a population of 1.4 billion. (The only other country with a comparable population size is India; no other country comes close.)
The land is very rich in natural resources such as coal, metals, and timber, and is good for agriculture.
Like Russia, much of the country is uninhabited; most of the population is centered in the more cultivatable East.
With the Belt and Road Initiative, China has expanded its influence by funding infrastructure projects in other countries around the world.
China is a one-party socialist republic with a market econom
GERMANY
WHAT MAKES GERMANY A MAJOR POWER?
Germany is the largest country in Europe after Russia, in both population and geographical size, and is a leading power in the European Union and important member of NATO.
The country is rich in natural resources including natural gas, coal and timber, and is one of the world’s largest economies. It is a world leader in science and technology, and a top producer of cars and pharmaceutical products.
Still reflecting its demilitarization after WWII, Germany is not a nuclear power, and its army is less powerful than those of smaller major powers France and the UK.
FRANCE
WHAT MAKES FRANCE POWERFUL?
France is not only a key power in the European Union and world diplomacy, but is also said to possess significance “soft power” or influence around the world.
France is one of the largest countries in Europe geographically, with a population of around 66 million, similar to the population of the UK.
It is rich in natural resources including coal and minerals, and has been historically well suited to agriculture with an excellent diverse climate. It is today Europe’s most important agricultural producer.
Its military strength is roughly equivalent to that of the UK, and has a nuclear arsenal.
It is a world leading industrial power as well as a world leader in tourism and luxury goods.
UNITED KINGDOM
WHAT MAKES THE UK A MAJOR POWER?
The UK, far smaller geographically than the other countries profiled here, has a population of about 67 million, comparable to France’s, and a sphere of influence extending to more than 2 billion people living within the British Commonwealth. It is an industrial power with a large economy, and a world leader in finance and medical research, as well as a major cultural leader. At its height in the early 20th century, the British Empire was the largest empire in history.
It is rich in natural resources, especially coal which was integral to its role as a leader of the the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century.
It has a powerful military, comparable to France’s, and is a nuclear power.
JAPAN
WHAT MAKES JAPAN A MAJOR POWER?
Japan is the third largest economy in the world, after the US and China, and is a world leader in technology. Geographically it is slightly larger than Germany (though much of the land is uninhabitable mountains), and its population is around 120 million, with very high population density in its urban areas.
It is not rich in natural resources and has been historically dependent on imports. Today Japan is a top producer of cars and electronic equipment.
Its military is one of the most powerful in the world, but it is not a nuclear power.
