Superstate
Encyclopedia
A superstate is an agglomeration of nations and/or states, often linguistically and ethnically diverse, under a single political-administrative structure. This is distinct from the concept of superpower
, although these are frequently seen together. It is also distinct from the concept of empire
, where one nation dominates other nations through military, political, and economic power, as in the Roman Empire
, although an empire may also be a superstate, as in ancient Persia, India
and China
.
An example of a small superstate would be the republic of Yugoslavia
before its breakup at the end of the cold war.
An example of an ancient superstate would be China, under various dynasties.
Eurosceptics
argue that the European Union
is a current example of an emerging superstate.
Constitutionally structured as federated
republic
s, the United States of America and modern Germany
may be considered superstates.
The former Soviet Union
, though being constitutionally defined as federated republic, was de facto a superstate due to a major cultural and linguistical diversity between its inhabited ethnicities, never really identified themselves as the single Soviet nation despite the official doctrine.
The British Empire
came close to becoming a superstate in the late 19th Century when there was an attempt to re-organise both Dominions and Colonies into a single body as an Imperial Federation
.
Superpower
A superpower is a state with a dominant position in the international system which has the ability to influence events and its own interests and project power on a worldwide scale to protect those interests...
, although these are frequently seen together. It is also distinct from the concept of empire
Empire
The term empire derives from the Latin imperium . Politically, an empire is a geographically extensive group of states and peoples united and ruled either by a monarch or an oligarchy....
, where one nation dominates other nations through military, political, and economic power, as in the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, although an empire may also be a superstate, as in ancient Persia, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
An example of a small superstate would be the republic of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
before its breakup at the end of the cold war.
An example of an ancient superstate would be China, under various dynasties.
Eurosceptics
Euroscepticism
Euroscepticism is a general term used to describe criticism of the European Union , and opposition to the process of European integration, existing throughout the political spectrum. Traditionally, the main source of euroscepticism has been the notion that integration weakens the nation state...
argue that the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
is a current example of an emerging superstate.
Constitutionally structured as federated
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
s, the United States of America and modern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
may be considered superstates.
The former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, though being constitutionally defined as federated republic, was de facto a superstate due to a major cultural and linguistical diversity between its inhabited ethnicities, never really identified themselves as the single Soviet nation despite the official doctrine.
The British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
came close to becoming a superstate in the late 19th Century when there was an attempt to re-organise both Dominions and Colonies into a single body as an Imperial Federation
Imperial Federation
Imperial Federation was a late-19th early-20th century proposal to create a federated union in place of the existing British Empire.-Motivators:...
.
Fictional superstates
- Atlantic Federation (GundamGundamThe is a metaseries of anime created by Sunrise studios that features giant robots called "Mobile Suits" ; usually the protagonist's MS will carry the name Gundam....
anime metaseries) - Earth AllianceEarth AllianceEarth Alliance may refer to:* Earth Alliance , from the Babylon 5 TV series* Earth Alliance , from the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED anime series...
- Eastasia (Nineteen Eighty-Four)
- Eurasia (Nineteen Eighty-Four)
- Fleet of WorldsFleet of WorldsFleet of Worlds are both a location and a book in Larry Niven's Known Space series.The series consisting of this book and its sequels is referred to by the same title.-Novel:The novel, co-written by Niven and Edward M. Lerner, was released in 2007...
- Oceania (Nineteen Eighty-Four)
- Galactic Empire (Star Wars)Galactic Empire (Star Wars)The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It is a galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Empire is introduced in Star Wars...
- Galactic Empire (Isaac Asimov universe)
- Megacity One
- MeccaniaMeccaniaMeccania: the Super-State is a dystopian novel first published in 1918. It is noteworthy as "A remarkable forecast of the origin and development of totalitarianism...."...
- Old Republic (Star Wars)
- United Federation of PlanetsUnited Federation of PlanetsThe United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
- The World StateThe World StateThe World State is the primary setting of Aldous Huxley's 1932 dystopian novel Brave New World. In the novel, The World State is a unified government which administers the entire planet, with a few isolated exceptions....
- Successor StatesSuccessor StatesIn the fictional BattleTech universe, the Successor States are the major military powers of the Inner Sphere, each governed by one of the Great Houses...
See also
- European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
- Imperial FederationImperial FederationImperial Federation was a late-19th early-20th century proposal to create a federated union in place of the existing British Empire.-Motivators:...
- Organization of American StatesOrganization of American StatesThe Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
- People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
- United States of America
- Union of India