Perception of superpowers in the Balkans: Which Superpower is the best performing in this century?
Posted by Maecenium@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 27 comments
The world we live in is changing rapidly.
According to your personal feeling, what superpower made the greatest progress in this century?
America? Was No.1 and it's still No.1 economic power. They have radically changed their way of thinking, changed their popular culture and, starting this Monday, they are changing their course.
Russia? Started from the rock bottom, were absent from Top 10 economies from 1993 to 2010 (Spain and Mexico were better). Now became resilient and opened new markets.
China? Started the century as a country slightly stronger than Italy (LOL) and slightly weaker than France. Today rivaling America, and holding No.1 in the majority of critical technologies.
EU? Started as the dream for the Balkans. I'm not sure if I can write anything positive. Eurosong? Ok, not Eurosong. Hm... Cool flag?
MasterGenieHomm5@reddit
The EU increased its territory by nearly a million square kilometers.
Won the geopolitical war in Europe. Where Russia used to occupy most of Europe, now the majority of its population lives inside the EU, and its share of European land is greater than Russia's. The idea of joining the EU is now a real consideration everywhere in Europe but Russia, even in the far Caucasus.
Actually had good economic growth per capita since 2000 when you take into account that the euro appreciated hugely before depreciating after 2008.
Strengthened all its institutions and capabilities to emerge as something like a country.
Brought peace to EU citizens even as war constantly rages around its borders.
Is actually well positioned to make use of future opportunities because the rest of the world is increasingly drowning in debt while Europe's austerity push worked in keeping debt manageable.
User20242024@reddit
only global empire
dimiteddy@reddit
China is the faster growing superpower, they are still not close to US military technology. There's still not active 5th gen aircrafts mainly cause of engine problems, Russia is even worst they still mostly using dump missiles instead of guiding ammunition. Also I think war performance vs Ukraine (that mainly had Soviet equipment pre war) is pretty weak.
kodial79@reddit
America is still the strongest but China will eventually overtake them.
EU and Russia on the other hand, they will have to struggle to survive.
Only-Dimension-4424@reddit
There is only one super power since 90s and that's America , the rest are just great powers not super power, no country is close to America in terms of world domination ,maybe even in history ! They have bases or influence almost everywhere in the planet,thus their language is become lingua Franca in their era, most people thinks English is become world language due to British empire but not, since until world war 2 French was more popular overall, but after ww2 due to American domination English surpass French with big margin
Maecenium@reddit (OP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb5zYKYF3Xo
Year 2000
EU holds following positions, in GDP vs today
Literally not a single country moved up on the leaderboard, and yet...
Roughly 40% voted for US
40% for China
And 20% for EU
AideSpartak@reddit
China but the USA is still the strongest.
As much I love the EU, it doesn’t deserve its place here. We are nowhere United enough to be considered a superpower.
viktordachev@reddit
Ahmmm.... so far... Looking at chinese econimics data, they are heading streight to a deep swamp. Good acceleration, but things might change soon.
AideSpartak@reddit
“Might” is a key word though.
And the question was about who has been performing the best so far this century. So far China went from a developing country in the early 2000’s to the second biggest economy in the world (1st ppp) and the by far the biggest exporter of goods. It’s the only real challenger to American hegemony.
The only other answer you could give is that the USA is maybe doing better since they are managing to hold off being overtaken so far. But if we are talking about overall economic situation, it’s not like the USA is thriving with their already absurd divide between the very rich and everyone else, that’s only widening and is going to continue to accelerate in that direction
viktordachev@reddit
Yeah, "might" because their markets might be overreacting to Trump, becuse right now it is in fact panic. Are their overreacting or not and will Trump rise taxes and ban exports and imports, we will see.
The real problem with rhe chinese economy is that it is very much deppendable on both imports and exports. It is behaving like doing business from scratch (which is economically the case of China) on credit. You manage to pay, get a bigger credit and so on and do on. While everything is OK, it runs and runs good, But it is not really sustainable and a crisis (like bad month in sales) might render you bankrupt pretty easy. The chinese economy works well while it rises with more than 16% annually. But while rising, the labour costs also rise, and it loses the advantage of cheapest goods, as manifacturers move to cheaper places like Vietnam and India. Rising become if Im not wrong about 5%, which would bie nice in USA or EU, but for China is a Disaster. Alos they are massively deppendant on the trade with USA and bigh problems there would suffocate the Chinese economy much faster than Russia (which is more sustainable) without oil and gas exports. Russia at least digg their own reosurces, while China mostly imports (and has to pay) them.
AideSpartak@reddit
I don’t necessarily disagree with you. They also have a really bad demographic makeup because of the 1 child policy and it’s likely going to implode in a decade or so if they don’t patch the imbalance by importuning an enormous amount of migrants (which isn’t that likely).
I’m just saying that so far they have been doing probably the best. Until/if their economy actually crumbles I will still say they have done the best so far. It definitely isn’t Russia which is a fascist oligarchy completely dependent on its natural resources and the EU which unfortunately is very far from being a true superpower. The only other possible answer from the 4 is the USA but I wouldn’t say they are doing that great either. Their gdp may be rising, but the extremely uneven wealth distribution skews the image. The majority of Americans experience a stagnating or even worsening economic situation.
Maecenium@reddit (OP)
I agree with you, but don't be surprised if EU gets similar number of votes as USA or China
Maecenium@reddit (OP)
Interesting social experiment, because I think that we (*Balkans) are still obsessed with EU, as if it's some highschool chick that was popular, unavailable and unattainable, 25 years ago.
Today she is a 40 years old cat lady, passionate feminist, well educated and utterly incapable of understanding the basic facts of life. Nobody wants her anymore, but the boy who never grew up still holds her on pedestal.
400 views
1/3 hates this question (cancel culture entering Balkans)
40-ish votes
17 for China,
15 for Murica,
8 for EU?! Seriously, 8 people think that 45 years old cat lady is still a keeper?
1 for Russia
AideSpartak@reddit
The analogy for the EU doesn’t make any sense. If anything it’s an infant that may either grow into a really impressive adult or die before maturing.
The old person is Russia
R4ndoNumber5@reddit
I think people have any consideration for the EU only because they dont want to deal with VIsas anymore
ProductGuy48@reddit
America and there is not even a debate. Love them or hate them America's armed forces are greater than the combined strength of the next 10 countries, including Russia and China. (and no strength doesn't mean manpower, it means strength).
CabbageInMacedonia@reddit
Russia is my favorite out of these options.
BGD_TDOT@reddit
America/EU are still the strongest force politically and militarily in the world, the main difference between now and 90's (beginning of post-Soviet era is that it is not UNCONTESTED power. Russia, China, Iran, India, Gulf Partners (Saudi Arabia & Emirates), Turkey all have the geopolitical power to project power in their respective regions even if it is against Western interests. I will say that people in Serbia severely overestimate the power of Russia & China, neither of them are superpowers, they are regional powers. Russia's sphere of influence no longer extends past Central Asia, Caucasus and a few Eastern European countries. China is an economic superpower but militarily its surrounded by hostile or suspicious states ready to defend themselves against their influence (Korea, Japan, Vietnam, India, Philippines).
GreatshotCNC@reddit
Choosing EU is crazy.
Maecenium@reddit (OP)
8 people voted for EU
16 for China
I have no idea how... We have some hostage mentality
GreatshotCNC@reddit
Pragmatically and objectively speaking, the EU hasn't been progressing nearly as fast as China. It feels like the EU simply exists.
R4ndoNumber5@reddit
Considering starting point, China no contest
Maecenium@reddit (OP)
Enver was betting correctly X)
R4ndoNumber5@reddit
something something broken clock something something twice a day something something
Waldringfield@reddit
China most definately. Germany struggling to compete with Chinese industry and they wont be able to compete for too long. USA is doomed, they need many years to overcome what Biden did.
Maecenium@reddit (OP)
This summer, I came to Serbia after 3.5 years in America.
"America" from our dreams lives in Serbia, not in America.
Seriously, blindfolded, teleported from 1980's, to Belgrade and Houston, I would guess that BG is America in 2025
Commie_Vladimir@reddit
The best performing so far would still be the US, but the greatest progress is certainly China.