An emerging power or rising power is a
state or
union of states with significant rising influence in global affairs. Such a power aspires to have a
more powerful position or role in
international relations, either
regionally or
globally, and possess sufficient resources and levels of development that such goals are potentially achievable.
Characteristics
There are few available conceptualizations of the term "emerging power". Therefore, there is no standard or agreed method to decide which states are emerging powers.[citation needed] However, a fundamental characteristic of an emerging power is that it is also an
emerging economy, being that economic development is necessary and preliminary to political and military emergence.[1] It has been argued that while a country may be an emerging power, it is above anything else an emerging economy with only the potential or hope of increasing their global influence. This is because of several limiting factors, largely the seven dimensions of state power: geography, population, economy, resources, military, diplomacy, and national identity.[2] Traditionally, only
great powers or
superpowers have succeeded in all seven dimensions of state power.
The
BRICS[3] are often cited as being emerging powers, but at varying stages of development and of varying degrees of potential. For example,
Russia, which was once a superpower, is now re-emerging in some aspects of state power following the
fall of the Soviet Union.
China and
India are emerging as
potential superpowers, while
Brazil is emerging as a possible great power.[4][5][6]
List of emerging powers
The term emerging power is often used to delineate the following
G20 countries: Advanced economies and/or developed countries of the
G20 major economies
Although there is no exact and agreed upon definition of what constitutes an emerging power, the term has sometimes been also applied to the following other countries:
^"Secondary regional powers in Huntington's view include Great Britain, Ukraine, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Argentina." See Tom Nierop, "The Clash of Civilisations," in The Territorial Factor, edited by Gertjan Dijkink and Hans Knippenberg (Amsterdam: Vossiuspers UvA, 2001), p. 61.