Seeing how India was getting into space exploration it is possible India may become a super power sometime during this century. Things can change quickly ,for example look at how the soviet union rose to power all of a sudden. All it takes is one political change.

I think China and India will rise up...
China might just go a little higher. But India will be still very superpowered.
The main reason is because they are both very rapidly developing countries. China has the most potential because not only do the world's main supply of stuff (i.e. Clothes, toys etc) depend on China. India on the other hand still has potential but not enough.
China and India will beat the other on some subjects though. China might beat India on military power, while india might beat china economically.
Remember, these two countries both have nuclear power, nuclear bombs, and other high tech stuff. China also has the technology to destroy satellites and are already blinding US spy satellites with something. These two countries all have great potential.

I really can't see India rising to the top spot. I suppose it's the cowgirl in me that can't see how anybody could worship cows instead of eating them could make it to the top.

But China? Oh yea, they could be in the running. Especially since they are poisoning all of our dogs and children with toxic chemicals in the cheap garbage they sell us.

The fatc that India will rise up is so far-fetched. They do have the military power, but the political aspect and the fact that that is a breeding ground for pandemics, terrorists, and corrupt leaders. India is out of the question. Britain and the U.S. have a strong relationship. I don't see they combining into one country, but they could become united such as the EU. U.S. will become bankrupt unless they stop trying to be big and bad and try some peacful approach. AND STOP ELECTING BAD LEADERS!. There will be many conflicts in the future. Tension between Russia and the U.S. is the same between Britain and China. China has many exports and populace approval they have a great chance of being a super power. Britain has close to the best special forces next to the navy seals and has an extremely large political influence. Probably over China.I feel in 2020 China will be uo there followed by the EU and then Britain or India

-Nick

Of all the money we(USA) owe, via the national debt/deficit, etc.... most of that is to China - so in my opinion we're already China's Biatch until we get our finances in order and with the Current dip**** president and administration throwing all our money at wars that nobody supports.

If china were to stop loaning us money, and call in our debts, we'd be royally screwed.

Russia also has been building some new technology that might need to be examined later on.

My fear is an alliance of China + Iran + Russia, that would be extremely bad, and not all that out of the realm of possibilities.

There is only one super power in the world today, and as we all know its USA. However it is growing old and I don't think it will hold that title for much longer, at the same time nigher china nor India have the potential of being a power whom other nations would follow.

They are more based on population than cultural and technological growth therefor will not be able to influence the world. In my opinion the EU has a chance of becoming an ideal Libral/Capitalist model which can take our civilization to the next step. There is also potential within middle east such as Iran and newly born or about to be born nations who are struggling for survival at the moment, but eventually rise to power. Iran is already spreading its influence through out Arabia and as far as India in the east, lately even Turkey as fallen under the spell of Islam. Russia in the north is also getting back in the game. However my bid stays with EU and couple of states that are not yet recognized as nation but have the air of leadership around them. China and India would have been stronger in the industrial age because that was the age of population and the rise of capitalism. However humanity is taking a step into a more libralist age where quality counts over quantity.

-a guy who knows it all

next super power / CANADA !!!!!!
The Next World Super Power?

CANADA will become the next super power along with the united states solo because of all the oil we have if we keep america runing there war machaines nothing will stop them and for that Canada will reap the rewards, but it could make a little senes some day

-reply by shawn

Well, determining who will be the next World Super Power depends on a lot of different factors. First in my mind is what is our definition of Super Power? As it stands now we still tend to define Super Power in militaristic terms, with economics as a (relatively) important sidenote. In the future, this may change depending on how the world continues to evolve. Due to the growth of organizations such as the EU and the lessening of militaristic tensions around the world in comparison to the past (alright not exactly, but if you think about it the "War on Terror" is really not that big, if you think of it in terms of previous conflicts it helps put things in perspective), I tend to think that it is quite possible for the economic aspect of Super Powers to take precedence. If that happens we could start to see a huge shift in the world. One often ignored region of the world is South America, and I think that in the future they could play a large part in how the world develops, even if nobody takes them into account at the moment. While the USA is just starting a trend of moving towards a viewpoint with more socialist tendencies (it may not move there, and it's not universal, but there are signs), South America has a history of socialism. Many South American countries are beginning to form trade agreements amongst themselves, and while it may take time, I think that they will eventually develop a working regional economic unit. If the USA is intelligent and fosters cooperation and friendly terms with South America they can prevent themselves from being economically handicapped by their distance from the EU and Asia where developing nations such as China and India are going to start gaining greater footholds in the world economy. My view is that the world is going to eventually become more focused on regional, rather than global trade. Economically it makes sense, and economics tend to be the deciding force for most major changes and evolutions.

Of course, all of this is based on the idea that militaristic might will become increasingly less important, and that different nations and ideologies will be able to coexist with at least civil harmony. If it breaks down into pseudo-coldwar times again than I think that developing nations such as China that haven't developed strong liberal ideals-based societies will have a greater advantage in extending their power as they will not have to convince an electorate to ignore safety and environmental regulations. China has the ability to make things on the cheap, both in an monetary and environmental view. State controlled regulations and a large workforce that has a strong sense of nationalism are what allow a country to quickly gear up and fight. The US had this at one point, but we have given up some of our willingness to work in the nations interest so that we can work in the interests of the world. I don't think this is a bad thing, but it does give nations that are still going through the stages of industrialization an advantage (China, and India to a lesser degree).

Oh, don't forget Japan either. If my first view correct, than Japan's lack of a large military will become insignificant. If they can find a way to deal with the rising age of their population, Japan has some of the most advanced technology in the world. Their work with robotics is amazing, and if the world becomes a more stable economically based environment, advanced technologies are going to be some of the major signs pointing to the world's "Super Powers."