What are the most powerful and influental countries?

[Heraclitus]

Nope, unfortunately a lot of people still listen to the rosbifs...

Their economy is much much smaller than that of Germany or Japan, according to some sources its even slightly smaller than that of France. They unlike the US (which has had a recent change of administration) still carry a bit of the stain for the Iraq war. They also have a reputation for being America's lapdog.
The Commonwealth is about as relevant as the average random international organisation.


So
Economy 2#? Fail

Military 2#? Fail, both China and France spend more

Nukes? Pass, but Israel, France, Pakistan, China, North Korea and India all have nukes and we aren't putting them on the 2nd spot because of it.

Why are they no. 2 exactly? If people still listen to them more than to China this is probably just because of inertia.

[dannubis]

Still they listen more to them than to China so they are more influential. I wasn't commenting on the exact reasons of the influence, if something like that would exist anyway...

[OneFootInTheGrave]

1. Great Britain
2. England
3. Scotland
4. Wales
5. Northern Ireland
6. China
7. India
8. Pakistan
9. US
10. Brazil
11. Russia
12. Israel
13. Iran


43. Germany
77. France

197. Nauru
198. Kiribati
199.Vanuatu
200. Zimbabwe
201. St Kitts and Nevis
202. Canada

[Patroklos]

I notice in dannubis's rush to Jew bash in labeling Isreal the end all be all of US Middle East policy, he has yet to even mention the actual prime motivation for US Middle East policy; oil.

At first I thought he was just being a troll, but now it is quite obvious that he really just hates Jews

[KrazyHorse]

Their economy is much much smaller than that of Germany or Japan, according to some sources its even slightly smaller than that of France. They unlike the US (which has had a recent change of administration) still carry a bit of the stain for the Iraq war. They also have a reputation for being America's lapdog.
The Commonwealth is about as relevant as the average random international organisation.

Not really true. The developed Commonwealth countries still look to the UK for at least a certain amount of moral leadership. The most important examples are, of course, Canada and Australia which together have a GDP equal to the UK's. The Commonwealth is also hugely important to about half of the Caribbean. Germany has very little international soft power, and the same is true of Japan. France is a much more apt comparison, as it still holds sway through much of Africa. Its influence within the EU can be compared to the UK's influence among the developed Commonwealth countries.

[KrazyHorse]

1. Great Britain
2. England
3. Scotland
4. Wales
5. Northern Ireland
6. China
7. India
8. Pakistan
9. US
10. Brazil
11. Russia
12. Israel
13. Iran


43. Germany
77. France

197. Nauru
198. Kiribati
199.Vanuatu
200. Zimbabwe
201. St Kitts and Nevis
202. Canada

I'm trying to figure out if this is the international ranking of countries in some obscure sport....

[KrazyHorse]

Why are they no. 2 exactly? If people still listen to them more than to China this is probably just because of inertia.

Inertia's important; it's called "history".

[KrazyHorse]

I still wouldn't call the UK the second most "important" country in the world (in terms of international influence) but it's unrealistic to simply compare GDPs or even military spending.

[Heraclitus]

Why are they no. 2 exactly? If people still listen to them more than to China this is probably just because of inertia.

Inertia's important; it's called "history".

I suppose you have a point, but I tought we where talking about today? If not I nominate Rome as the most important civ evah followed by the Mongols, Arabs and Chinese.




It's 2009 not 1950 and Britain was not #2 back then either. Would you say that British influence has increased or decreased? Looking at every statistic imaginable the UK has been in relative declinve (to the rest of the world) since the end of its postwar economic boom.

[KrazyHorse]

I suppose you have a point, but I tought we where talking about today? If not I nominate Rome as the most important civ evah followed by the Mongols, Arabs and Chinese.

?

WTF?

I'm talking about influence TODAY based on events YESTERDAY. The UK still owns influence due to its history as the colonial superpower of the 19th century. People in a lot of Commonwealth countries have a positive view of the UK's colonial history as part of their own history.

I've already stated that I don't consider the UK the 2nd most influential country in today's world, but it's not very far from it. And it's far more influential internationally than either Japan or Germany, partly due to WWII and the subsequent gelding of both these countries and partly due to the UK's colonial history.

[dannubis]

I notice in dannubis's rush to Jew bash in labeling Isreal the end all be all of US Middle East policy, he has yet to even mention the actual prime motivation for US Middle East policy; oil.

At first I thought he was just being a troll, but now it is quite obvious that he really just hates Jews

Yawn at you. When i need something to learn about military matters I listen to you. Otherwise you spawn little more than right wing nonsense.

And to be honest, I couldn't care less about Jews in general.

[Dr Strangelove]

Why are you putting the British second?

Because they have the second largest stocks of foreign investment?

[Heresson]

btw you all:
You Forgot Poland!

[mrmitchell]

The answer to this thread title is the nuclear club. Question answered, case closed.

[Kuciwalker]

No. There are many countries more influential than e.g. Pakistan.