# Non-Americans: If you had to have a superpower other than your own country... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737 "2005-10-18T13:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/1 "2005-10-18T13:02:34Z")
would you want a country other than the USA to have such power? This assumes that you must have the same imbalance of power and the superpower can’t be your own country. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/2 "2005-10-18T13:25:17Z")
I’d pick Brazil, for the reason that it’s almost impossible to imagine them causing any real problems with other countries, what with their multi-culti, hedonistic, tolerant, soccer-mad culture, weak government, and bureaucratic inefficiency. (Which begs the hypothetical question of how they could manage to become the sole superpower anyway…) ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/3 "2005-10-18T13:25:40Z")
Then bring back the British Empire, I’d say. High tea and the Raj and Phileas Fogg and all that. We’d get along swimmingly. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/4 "2005-10-18T13:46:06Z")
I wouldn’t mind a united Europe as a world superpower, and I think they could become one if they got their act together. But so long as they continue to squabble, they’ll remain second rate powers at best. The thought of a Chinese hegemony gives me the heebie-jeebies. They don’t take over a country so much as they replace its population with their own (see Tibet.) ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/5 "2005-10-18T13:52:30Z")
I agree with **Evil Captor** , a united Europe would probably be best. As it looks, though, China will be stepping into that role sooner or later. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/6 "2005-10-18T14:02:35Z")
**Sublight** , you’re saying you’d rather have a united-Europe over the US? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/7 "2005-10-18T14:09:18Z")
A united Europe? No thanks. Europe does not have a great track record for this sort of thing. If there’s going to be a superpower, I’ll take the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/8 "2005-10-18T14:12:39Z")
I’d like to see a balance of power between the two. Even more, I’d like to see a balanced partnership between the two to act as a counterweight to the 800-lb gorilla that’s waking up China. US/Europe working together seems less likely to fall ass-backward into a shooting war that the US by itself. Of course, an equitable partnership (which involves listening to others and making compromises) between the US and anyone doesn’t seem very likely right now. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/9 "2005-10-18T14:16:28Z")
Italy, New Zealand, Canada, or Thailand. The country would have to be laid-back and/or more interested in wine and flirting than warfare. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/10 "2005-10-18T14:19:12Z")
Anyway, a united Europe is not a current reality. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/11 "2005-10-18T14:40:23Z")
The Aussies might stand a chance of making it work. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/12 "2005-10-18T14:46:37Z")
Canada, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/13 "2005-10-18T14:50:37Z")
As an Australian, I’d go for New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/14 "2005-10-18T15:36:45Z")
I’m-a go with Sweden. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/15 "2005-10-18T15:58:02Z")
Iceland. What? I’m serious ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/16 "2005-10-18T17:31:25Z")
I’d pick a Belgium that can turn invisible. Or maybe a flying Guatemala. Superpowers are cool. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/17 "2005-10-18T17:49:22Z")
Holland all the way. Nederlands would just rock as a superpower. Or maybe [New Sealand](http://www.do-newsealand.tk/premier.html) ? ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/18 "2005-10-18T19:45:42Z")
> [@The Scrivener](#): > > I’d pick Brazil, for the reason that it’s almost impossible to imagine them causing any real problems with other countries, what with their multi-culti, hedonistic, tolerant, soccer-mad culture, weak government, and bureaucratic inefficiency. Thank you for your vote of confidence… but amazing as it may seem… my scantily dressed fellow countrymen are more prudish and conservative in relation to sex than you might imagine and a bit less tolerant than they appear. Naturally we would do a better job diplomatically than the US… we are a gregarious lot. I myself wouldn’t mind a British Superpower (again). I like the way the Brits think and act. They are polite, sarcastic and intelligent. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/19 "2005-10-18T22:20:50Z")
I think the US has done a lousy job as the incumbent superpower. However, it’s only par for the course, it seems to me that any country that has the ability to become a superpower also tend to abuse it. Perhaps China is next in line, but I’m sure they’ll make a pig’s ear of it like everyone else. I’m not sure if it was George Orwell that said it but whoever it was that did say: “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely” had it about right. So, for obvious reasons I can’t nominate one country to be the next superpower. But in the spirit of the question give it to Norway 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737/20 "2005-10-18T22:27:14Z")
Japan or New Zealand [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-if-you-had-to-have-a-superpower-other-than-your-own-country/326737.md?page=2)