CIAO DATE: 06/2011
October 2010
Centre for International Peace and Security Studies
In the current era, the most striking development is the appearance of rising powers. These include Brazil, Russia, India, and China but also South Africa, Mexico, and South Korea. No longer can a small group of advanced states, the Group of Seven (G-7), manage the world economy. The G-7 has for all practical purposes been replaced by the G-20, which includes China, India, South Korea, Indonesia, and Australia. The emerging powers in Asia account for a growing share of the world‘s global domestic product. These powers are spending more on their military—India already has an aircraft carrier and plans to procure two more. China‘s growing navy is a major concern to the United States military. The rising powers will influence international institutions and interactions for decades to come. Will the new powers become responsible stakeholders in the global system? Or will they pursue their individual interests at the cost of global stability? Will the world witness a return to competition over spheres of influence and military power?
Resource link: Status, Identity, and Rising Powers [PDF] - 344K