What happens after the American Century?

[flamer84]

I would agree with this because no matter how bad USA is the Americans and generally the West has values of human rights, equal rights and most of equal opportunities. Governments in USA and Europe make sure that ethnic minorities are not left out when jobs go around, they make sure every child is given the same chance at education.

I'm very skeptical about countries such as Russia & China. These people and their culture is totally opposite in respect to the values of western powers. We have all ready seen the policies of USSR in Central Asia and the Caucasus and now its successor Russia isn't any better. China's role in Tibet and East Turkestan is shady to say the least.

I guess we will have to wait and see the great American empire slowly cutting down. I think in the future USA will take a back seat and possibly become like Canada.

Agreed,with all their sins,Western powers are still democracies where public outcry is important Imagine a Russia or China being in the US's place today ! They would steamroll the world and,pardon my french,not a single f%ck would be given.

 

[LeveragedBuyout]

Very outdated version of history you have there friend.

History is a repeating cycle, there is nothing new under the sun. Please provide an example of a stable and secure multi-polar world in the annals of history. I provided the most recent example, and it ended in a world at war, but I am open minded.

 

[Koovie]

Europe and the US still hold the technological edge and will do in the future to.As for the Militaries it would take short time for the EU to militarise if it needs to,look at Germany pre WW2 .Even so,today,there's nobody out there to take on the combined forces of the EU,not even the US.

Not really, there are several fields in which non US or European nations are about to catch up or have already caught up.
And you cannot compare the modern situation with the 1930s. Building a modern day airlifter for instance takes much much more time and resources than 80 years ago. And potential enemies would obviously not just sit there and watch.

And with both, the USA and the EU (France and the UK) possessing over nuclear weapons, all out war is more than unlikely.
(Although the US had its hand in the development of British ICBM`s)

The only thing I can imagine is a limited conflict between both parties... maybe over some overseas territory. But in any case, the USA would win. Especially considering that there is nobody who come even close to the American amphibious capabilities.
And apart from that, I seriously doubt the term "European nationalism". The recent elections are supporting this.

Military of the European Union - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Weird how you call this a "joke"....over 2000,mostly modern,fighters,some 6500 Tanks,etc...

I was not talking about countries like France or the UK when I said joke, but about nations like Greece or Portugal. Read the comment of MarkusS to which I replied.

And BTW; the US Navy`s aviation wing alone could match up to this!

 

[flamer84]

Not really, there are several fields in which non US or European nations are about to catch up or have already caught up.
And you cannot compare the modern situation with the 1930s. Building a modern day airlifter for instance takes much much more time and resources than 80 years ago. And potential enemies would obviously not just sit there and watch.

And with both, the USA and the EU (France and the UK) possessing over nuclear weapons, all out war is more than unlikely.
(Although the US had its hand in the development of British ICBM`s)

The only thing I can imagine is a limited conflict between both parties... maybe over some overseas territory. But in any case, the USA would win. Especially considering that there is nobody who come even close to the American amphibious capabilities.
And apart from that, I seriously doubt the term "European nationalism". The recent elections are supporting this.


I was not talking about countries like France or the UK when I said joke, but about nations like Greece or Portugal. Read the comment of MarkusS to which I replied.

Should we have a European army? — Debating Europe

The EU is on a ireversible path regardless of recent elections.In the end many rejected the Lisbon treaty by vote some years ago but it was still implemented.At worst,the UK will leave the Union but the rest will march on to further integration.Many like to beat it down (including the US) but take a look and see that integration in Europe is slowly advancing in every field.This is our only chance,we don't have large states like Asia,so the 500 million Union is our key to maintaining a relevance.The minds in power know it and can't be derailed from this road.

Why is Portugal a joke,or Greece ? With 10 million people,they have the economy of Pakistan,bigger than Bangladesh.Sure,you're talking about debt problems but the EU is helping.We shall endure the storm.

 

[Koovie]

Should we have a European army? — Debating Europe

The EU is on a ireversible path regardless of recent elections.In the end many rejected the Lisbon treaty by vote some years ago but it was still implemented.At worst,the UK will leave the Union but the rest will march on to further integration.Many like to beat it down (including the US) but take a look and see that integration in Europe is slowly advancing in every field.This is our only chance,we don't have large states like Asia,so the 500 million Union is our key to maintaining a relevance.The minds in power know it and can't be derailed from this road.

Why is Potugal a joke,or Greece ? With 10 million people,they have the economy of Pakistan,bigger than Bangladesh.Sure,you're talking about debt problems but the EU is helping.We shall endure the storm.

Maybe so, but only the future will tell......

But if you lose the UK, you will lose a huge chunk of your military power.

Why is Potugal a joke,or Greece ? With 10 million people,they have the economy of Pakistan,bigger than Bangladesh.Sure,you're talking about debt problems but the EU is helping.We shall endure the storm.

Those countries are bankrupt and dont have rosy future. The only thing thats carrying them over water is the massive aid money from its EU partners.

I said it in response to MarkusS comment in which he said that South Africa`s membership in the BRICS was a "joke".

Besides, countries like Pakistan or Bangladesh will eventually catch up with smaller economies like Greece..

 

[flamer84]

Maybe so, but only the future will tell......

But if you lose the UK, you will lose a huge chunk of your military power.

Indeed,nothing is certain,we're just discussing and conveying each others opinions.If the UK leaves i think it will be the momentum which will trigger European military integration.

 

[Pakistanisage]

This century will be an " Asian Century ".

 

[flamer84]

Those countries are bankrupt and dont have rosy future. The only thing thats carrying them over water is the massive aid money from its EU partners.
I said it in response to MarkusS comment in which he said that South Africa`s membership in the BRICS was a "joke".
Besides, countries like Pakistan or Bangladesh will eventually catch up with smaller economies like Greece..

Actually,they are not carried but "cured",Greece allready narrowed its deficit,same for Portugal.Catching up is a tricky business,it's rosy now but economic growth has a nasty habbit of not being something predictible,it could turn on you in 5-10 years.

Always remember the Great Depression of the 30's...many saw it as "the end" back then to.It wasn't.

My opinion:watch out for the EU,is a never undertaken project by now which will shape the world.For now we are in a methamorphosis stage,the butterfly will be beautifull.

 

[UKBengali]

Actually,they are not carried but "cured",Greece allready narrowed its deficit,same for Portugal.Catching up is a tricky business,it's rosy now but economic growth has a nasty habbit of not being something predictible,it could turn on you in 5-10 years.

Always remember the Great Depression of the 30's...many saw it as "the end" back then to.It wasn't.

My opinion:watch out for the EU,is a never undertaken project by now which will shape the world.For now we are in a methamorphosis stage,the butterfly will be beautifull.

The question is will the rest of Europe accept German dictats?

 

[flamer84]

The question is will the rest of Europe accept German dictats?

This "Germany is the dictator of Europe" is UK/US propaganda.Every country is in the EU because it wants so and every country accepts decisions or not.

 

[UKBengali]

This "Germany is the dictator of Europe" is UK/US propaganda.Every country is in the EU because it wants so and every country accepts decisions or not.

Merkel pretty much rules the EU now.

France now no longer much say as it has messed up its economy. I can never see French economy ever coming close to the efficient German one.

For the EU to become an integrated and cohesive block that is relevant in the new multipolar world, the rest of the EU will need to accept German leadership. Either that or fade into irrelevance on the world stage.

 

[flamer84]

Merkel pretty much rules the EU now.

France now no longer much say as it has messed up its economy. I can never see French economy ever coming close to the efficient German one.

For the EU to become an integrated and cohesive block that is relevant in the new multipolar world, the rest of the EU will need to accept German leadership. Either that or fade into irrelevance on the world stage.

No.Decisions in the EU Parliament are made by everybody ,in a consensus.Germany can't decide everything on its own,if tiny Luxemburg vetoes something,it can't have an effect.

 

[UKBengali]

No.Decisions in the EU Parliament are made by everybody ,in a consensus.Germany can't decide everything on its own,if tiny Luxemburg vetoes something,it can't have an effect.

I think you have missed my point.

With a democratic EU, where even Luxembourg has the veto, then the EU becomes indecisive and lacking true leadership. Rest of world won't take an EU seriously where there is no clear leader.

EU has world influence now as it has a very large economy but things will change over the next 10-15 years where it will become one of several large economic entities on the planet.

 

[flamer84]

I think you have missed my point.

With a democratic EU, where even Luxembourg has the veto, then the EU becomes indecisive and lacking true leadership. Rest of world won't take an EU seriously where there is no clear leader.

EU has world influence now as it has a very large economy but things will change over the next 10-15 years where it will become one of several large economic entities on the planet.

That is unavoidable,you can still lead through democratic principles,like you rule a country but only on a larger scale,giving more power to the EU Parliament.

On a funnier note,being bored right now i am reading US evangelical wackos and how they perceive the EU as the Beast from the Bible prophecy.

 

[Contrarian]

This century will be an " Asian Century ".

Lets not credit the useless Asian states shall we?
Asian century is just a couch word for Chinese century.