Ahriman
Tyrant
* even if we consider american superiority as 100years, it is still a rather short period compared to many other empires in history.
But there are more people alive in the 20th century, and more technological innovation, and more societal change,and more economic growth, and larger military conflicts, than at any other time in history. So its an important 100 years! (More important than any other 100 years in history, by far.)
[Examples: number of people lifted out of poverty, growth of widespread middle class, democratization, creation of Civilization gaming series]
The US was not a "developing country" before WW2, it was the richest country in the world.2010-100=1910. before ww2, america was a developing country, not a rare superpower.
Take a look for eg at:
http://www.theworldeconomy.org/MaddisonTables/MaddisontableB-18.pdf
1870, China and India have the largest single country economies, followed by UK (ie, UK counted separate from British Empire holdings) followed very closely by US. US was roughly 9% of world GDP.
1870s/80s is the very height of the British Empire, afterwards decline, partly from the devastating costs of colonial maintenance and wars (especially the Boer Wars).
1913, US is the largest economy by far, twice as large as any other, and just under 20% of world GDP.
1950, US economy is 3x the size of any other, and is over 27% of world GDP.
Not really accurate to say that the US didn't matter before WW2.
Not true. Widespread perception partly fed by *US* Propaganda to help encourage anti-communist spending and more defense industry. Technological innovation came from Japan, Europe and North America. Almost *none* came from the Soviet bloc. They were ahead in a small handful of military-oriented areas, and behind in everything else.moreover ussr was slightly stronger than usa; about tech, military, intelligence etc
True, though the Soviets largely collapsed under their own weight. US/NATO outlasted, rather than defeated.usa politicially defeated ussr by the help of nato allies, specifically gladio, not alone.
Russia has almost no influence or importance, its only economic significane is as an energy exporter - its GDP is roughly 10% that of the US, slightly behind Italy and above Spain. To suggest that Russia has "got the advantage back from usa" is somewhat absurd.so the only period that usa was the unique power is a 10-15 year period between 1990-2000 or 2010. nowadays it seems russia and china got the advantage back from usa
China is hugely important, and will eventually surpass the US (as will India).
Any wht does a power have to be "unique" to be a super-power? Can you think of any other period in history where there is a "unique" power in the world? Even in Europe there is rarely a single power, and was that power really more important than China?
[Note, I am not American, I just live here. So, no nationalism stake.]