Power, World

A state whose political, economic, and military influence extends worldwide and affects other states and global dynamics. Throughout history, a number of states have served as what might be considered world powers: the ancient Roman Empire, Spain in the 16th century, and France and Great Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries. After World War II, the two greatest world powers were the Soviet Union and the United States, both of which were considered superpowers because of their strength and influence.

Contemporary Evolution of World Power Dynamics

At the time of the American Revolution, the world's major powers were Great Britain and France. Until the turn of the 19th century, the United States generally took an isolationist stance in its foreign policy and global posture. The relatively new nation focused its energies internally, forging westward, building domestic industry, and bolstering and protecting economic markets. However, at the end of the 1800s, a shift in the U.S. global position occurred. The expansion of the U.S. Navy, the annexation of Hawaii, and U.S. engagement in the Spanish-American War transformed the United States into a power on a multipolar world stage.

[Page 588]By the early 20th century, Great Britain and France had been joined on the world stage not only by the United States but also by rapidly industrializing societies in Germany and Japan. However, two world wars within the span of 30 years devastated the traditional European powers and broke the military power of Japan. By the end of World War II, the Soviet Union emerged as a new force in world politics, joining the United States as the only truly global powers. For 45 years after World War II, a delicate and often dangerous bipolar rivalry known as the Cold War persisted between the two superpowers. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 produced today's unipolar system with the United States as the world's sole superpower.

Several factors have combined to put and keep the United States at the top of the global power pyramid. These include military superiority, trade volume and economic strength, and political influence. These sources of power enable, supplement, and advance one another, helping to sustain the preeminent U.S. position in world affairs.

The United States military is the largest and most technologically advanced in the world. In addition, no other state has as many military personnel stationed in as many foreign bases as the United States. Some of the roles performed by the U.S. military abroad include ensuring the security of other states, enforcing bilateral security agreements with other states, training other states' armies and specialized units, protecting U.S. interests internationally, stabilizing areas subject to tenuous and delicate political or military situations, and helping to patrol the borders of states whose own armies require reinforcement.

By virtue of this military superiority, the United States sets the standard for NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) military capabilities. Whereas Western European states are as developed in other sectors as the United States, they typically do not put as much emphasis on armament and military development as does the United States. As the leading military power, then, the United States armed forces set the bar for NATO's military standards. Because NATO is a military alliance whose member states contribute troops to create a collective force, interoperability is essential. Therefore, all members' armies must be mutually standardized to some degree. Before being considered for membership, aspirant states must ensure that their militaries will be able to fit into this fold.

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