Changes

'''Superpower''' refers to a very powerful [[country]] in the global spectrum, often the head of a diplomatic or military [[alliance]].  The term '''hegemon''' is also sometimes used.

'''Superpower''' refers to a very powerful [[country]] in the global spectrum, often the head of a diplomatic or military [[alliance]].  The term '''hegemon''' is also sometimes used.

In modern times, the [[British Empire]] was the world's first superpower, ruling a quarter of the world during a period of 150 years. It declined in power after the [[Second World War]], during which it expended much of its resources to fight the [[Axis Powers]].  Another contributing factor was the loss of preferential trade with overseas colonies as they gradually gained their independence around the same time as the Second World War.

In modern times, the [[British Empire]] was the world's first superpower, ruling a quarter of the world during a period of 150 years. It declined in power after the [[Second World War]], during which it expended much of its resources to fight the [[Axis Powers]].  Another contributing factor was the loss of overseas colonies as they gradually gained their independence in the years leading up to and following the Second World War.

Throughout the [[Cold War]], the [[United States]] and the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]] were considered the only two superpowers.  After the implosion of the USSR in 1991, America emerged as the world's lone superpower, and is to this day the only country to fulfill the criteria of that definition; [[China]], [[India]], [[Brazil]], [[Russia]]  are however considered to possess the ''potential'' of obtaining superpower status in the course of the 21st Century. At this time, strong antipathies between some its members and the lack of a common foreign policy, let alone a real political unity prevents the [[European Union]] from achieving anything close to Superpower status.

Throughout the [[Cold War]], the [[United States]] and the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]] were considered the only two superpowers.  After the implosion of the USSR in 1991, America emerged as the world's lone superpower, and is to this day the only country to fulfill the criteria of that definition; [[China]], [[India]], [[Brazil]], [[Russia]]  are however considered to possess the ''potential'' of obtaining superpower status in the course of the 21st Century. At this time, strong antipathies between some its members and the lack of a common foreign policy, let alone a real political unity prevents the [[European Union]] from achieving anything close to Superpower status.