Superpower

A superpower is a sovereign state or supranational union that holds a dominant position characterized by the ability to exert influence and project power on a global scale. Although there are no formal, universally accepted criteria, superpower status is generally achieved by combining hard power (economic means, military prowess, and technology) and soft power (political persuasion, cultural influence, and diplomacy). While a great power can exert its influence globally, superpowers are the ones so impactful that no significant action can be taken by the global community without first considering their positions. In this sense, superpowers are preeminent among the great powers; more narrowly, the term may be applied in specific contexts, such as energy superpower, economic superpower, or military superpower.

The term was coined in 1944 towards the end of World War II, referring to the United States, the British Empire, and the Soviet Union. Following the fallout of the Suez Canal Crisis and a period of rapid decolonization, the British Empire saw a steep decline, leaving the United States and the Soviet Union as the preeminent superpowers of the Cold War. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States emerged as the sole dominant power across multiple domains— a position sometimes referred to as a hyperpower.

Today, scholarly discourse and public perception on superpower status vary widely, with some considering the concept obsolete. There is no overall consensus on which entities are contemporary superpowers, with sources frequently using the term to describe the United States, China, the European Union, and Russia. In addition, India is sometimes discussed as a potential superpower in the near future, or a candidate for "superpowerhood."