Superpowers Essay Example

Countries like the USA, China and Russia have massive economic and political influence that affects many third world countries, these “superpowers” have become too powerful, and this amount of power and influence can lead to several political conflicts and even nuclear disaster. This essentially directly affects its citizens and the citizens of other countries, which should be avoided under any circumstances.

To begin with, the USA has been known for its massive economic and political influence. It has been this way since WW2, and the defeat of the USSR during the Cold War. Ever since, the USA has been using this influence to take advantage of other countries. A good example of this is NATO, the USA agreed to protect several European countries, only if they agreed to protect the USA. The USA has used its power to essentially constrain European countries into defending it. An example of the USA using its economic advantages over third world countries is the recent ban on trade with Cuba. The USA blocked its trades with Cuba and blocked them from trading with rival countries. Cuba was obligated to cooperate with the USA, this prevented them from advancing their own economy. The USA has certainly developed a massive influence, and there should be more of a balance for it to not affect others.

Secondly, China has become another major player in economic superpowers. China is a completely different country from the U.S. and follows a different ideology from the U.S and  has its own controversial history. In terms of economics, China has risen exponentially, but this came with several downsides. China is an authoritarian regime, and It’s known for its major human rights violations. China wants to expand this communist regime onto other countries, and it achieves this with economic sanctions and propaganda. Military power is used to intimidate smaller countries into cooperating with the Chinese government. China’s “9 dash line” is a good example of this, by taking up the entire south China sea and building military bases in it. It is essentially depriving surrounding 3rd world countries of its marine economic zones. 

A second example consists inside the African continent. China is offering African countries a rebuild in their infrastructure, but this has put them in severe debt and essentially forcibly bonding them to China. 

Another example is the “offer” of the Covid-19 vaccine to third world countries, with a couple of conditions that include: High interest, being loyal to the Chinese government, and obeying their economic sanctions; this ties in with the recognition of Taiwan.

China claims Taiwan as a part of mainland China, it sanctions any country that recognizes Taiwan as its own country, which prevents Taiwan from formerly trading with others due to China’s big trading influence.

Additionally, Russia is another big player in the war for political influence, even after the decline of the USSR. Russia still maintained a large amount of Military influence over countries in Europe and the U.S. with its large arsenal. Russia is most known for its powerful weapons. Conflict with Russia almost caused a World-Wide nuclear war; the Cuban missile crisis being a prime example. Good military protection is beneficial but there should be a limit set in place, and that avoids the creation of nuclear weapons as a whole, and it shouldn’t just appeal to Russia, but the U.S and China as well. 

To summarize, some countries have become too powerful, this has caused several conflicts between themselves and other 3rd world countries. No country should have total control of the world or have access to weapons that could potentially cause large amount of damage. Each country should follow human rights and its freedoms to trade and participate in whatever they please as long as it doesn’t force anyone else onto major debt or imprisonment, anyone should be able to choose what their government is like. And each government should be given an equal opportunity to develop.