The current crisis marks an important step in China s evolution as a great economic power.

No great economic power in history has been born without force until now.

They argue that a dominant economic power soon becomes a dominant military power, forgetting that the United States was the world s largest economy for 70 years before it became a military superpower.

Momentous, sure but China is not yet a superpower.

While Russia is no longer the superpower it was in the Soviet era, militarily it is still a great power, at least in Europe and Asia.

Europe s Arab interlocutors are unimpressed they want Europe to stop talking like a Great Power and start acting like one.

The creation of America as a major economic power, after all, was made possible by giant steel mills, integrated railway systems, and the mobilization of enormous energy reserves through such ventures as Standard Oil.

We have experienced great economic transformations throughout history the industrial revolution, the technology revolution, and the era of globalization.

Outsiders are increasingly convinced that China is a superpower, and that it needs to show that it can be a responsible one.

Europe currently exists as an economic actor, not as an international political actor.

As it basks in its new status as an economic superpower the dragon that is outpacing Asia s tigers as well as the donkeys of the West China is mistakenly downplaying its own serious structural weaknesses.

Then, in 1992, Deng Xiaoping set in motion one of the most rapid and total marketizations of a society in history, catalyzing China s spectacular rise as an economic superpower.

European culture, customs and government were introduced, with the Roman Catholic Church becoming the major economic and political power to overrule the traditional ways of the region, eventually becoming the only official religion of the Americas during this period.

In a global competition, a superpower s competitors are bound to exploit its weaknesses.

Of course, people who really want to be unkind will point out the absurdity of Russia s membership in a club that includes the giant economies of US, Germany, Japan, England, France, Italy, and (less so) Canada. Why wasn t Chinese president Hu Jintao, whose country s economy is the world s second largest (when measured at world prices), given a seat at the table instead of Putin?

For the true up and coming economic superpowers, we should turn instead to countries like Brazil, India, and South Africa, which have already accomplished their democratic transitions and are unlikely to regress.

As a rising superpower, China should feel confident that time is on its side.

The Soviets had their victory in World War II, followed by the creation of a global superpower.

Turkey is a true regional superpower, with one of the largest armies in the world.

Russia s desire to reclaim its role as a powerful global player is understandable and legitimate.

The substantial cultural influence of the United Kingdom has led it to be described as a cultural superpower.

Even though it is no longer a global superpower, Russia s vast oil and gas reserves make it an energy superpower, and Putin seems intent on playing that card.

And, after China, India looms as the next emerging coal based industrial superpower.

Regional organizations are still unable to solve regional problems without great power leadership.

According to this view, every great power needs obedient satellite countries.

The question is not whether China rises to great power status peacefully, but whether it intends to remain peaceful when it gets there.

Second, and more fundamentally, the US is a political military power in addition to being an economic power.

The dream of Iran s resurgence as a great power and civilization could be realized in unison with the major regional and global powers, rather than ending in the nightmare of confrontation.

Contrary to China, India finds it difficult to adapt to its status as an emerging Great Power.

Russia is again seeking a role as a global power and is therefore flexing its muscles.

Syria, as many people have pointed out, is not Libya or Mali. Nor is it a great power.

Unlike the Chinese, the Russians do not create economic wealth, but merely exploit their energy and mineral resources.

It must be an integrated economic, political, and social force.

By contrast, Japan has remained a fully pacifist economic power.

It matters greatly that China became a global military player before it became a global economic player.

A country with such influence over a military superpower cannot be considered weak.

In one generation, the nation of the people of Israel had a tremendous and dramatic change that made them a great power in the Near East.

Ironically, today s decline in American global power may lead to more effective regional cooperation.

Moreover, Germany, it seems, is becoming a geo economic power driven by the needs of its export sector.

Leadership entails more than the possession of enormous economic and military power.

There is no doubt that the emergence of China as a global economic powerhouse brings tremendous benefits to its cash strapped neighbors in Southeast Asia.

China might itself wish to be a major force in a multi polar world, but has been plagued by its lack of overall strength.

Russia should be treated as a major power, which means consultations on important global issues.

Because Russia claims the status of a world power, it is expected to show restraint and responsibility.

Instead, Asia has become an economic powerhouse.