As an [amateur] historian, we are taught never to speculate, that indeed it is academically a waste of time.
But let's be naughty for a minute.

Where do you see the US as a world power - economically, diplomatically, militarily, politically - in five decades, and how do you believe it got to the position you speculate about?

Come on - don't be shy!

I see the entire long-haul trade economy worldwide collapsing in that time and the US regressing into a minor depression for several decades and becoming largely politically irrelevant outside its immediate borders. I'm sure we'll try to boss Latin American and Canada around as usual, but I would characterize our future world stature as being a lot more like Canada's -- everyone knows we're there, but nobody particularly cares.

Worldwide you'll probably see a few fairly major wars in the Central Asian area as China flexes its muscles and then takes the same fall as the long-haul economy breaks down due to fossil fuel issue and the self-destruction of much it's own arable land -- and without long-range military power to combat the growing political autonomy of South America, there won't be much they can do about it unless they feel like starting unwinnable wars with Russia and India.

Okay, putting on the "get weird' thinking hat.


In the next five decades, I see the U.S. and Canada and Mexico becoming an entity with still separate governance but much stronger alliances, having recognized that the only means to survival is solidarity. Our monies will be available for Mexico to expand it's oil production, as well as Canada. We will have military bases established in Mexico, primarily as a deterrant to those hungry South American leaders looking at moving north-ward, and providing a new vocation to many Mexican men and women. Travel between the three countries will require only an identification card. Spanish will be a required course in schools.

We will have returned to a predominant military-industrial economy. We will have nationalized our oil companies. We will have moved in the direction of more prohibitive trade regulations, seeing that between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico we can accommodate most of our needs. Most U.S. military bases around the globe will have closed and the troops and equipment redeployed to new bases in this hemisphere.

The EU will have developed in a similar fashion, allowing free travel among member states with an I.D. card. There will still be an alliance between the EU and the Americas, although there will be some strain due to the trade issues. Russia will have tried to flex it's military muscle, only to be held to a stalemate; the resulting treaties will establish new relationships between Russia, China and the EU.

There will have been a massively devastating war in the Middle East, reducing the populations of the area to 1/3 of pre-war levels; all pre-existing countries will still be alive and kicking. The UWA (United World Alliance) will have set policies regarding oil production and handling of other resources in the area, and established military bases to oversee and protect said production and distribution.

Similar policies will have been initiated regarding Africa, and the peoples will be viewed as resources the same as gems and gold and oil. The slave trade will return, albeit in a less barbaric fashion. Those who sign on to "indentured servant" agreements will have rights as to basic health care and food, shelter, clothing , minimal pay, etc. Failure to uphold the contract will be a felony offense on both sides. Citizens of India and China will compete for these opportunities.

The concept of a super-power will be long forgotten.

Wow - some gritty hypothesis.

I like 'em. Keep them coming!

As an [amateur] historian, we are taught never to speculate, that indeed it is academically a waste of time.
But let's be naughty for a minute.

Where do you see the US as a world power - economically, diplomatically, militarily, politically - in five decades, and how do you believe it got to the position you speculate about?

Come on - don't be shy!

David Brewer for president in '56. He will turn this nation around. You heard it hear first.

Before we have a chance to completely extricate ourselves from Iraq, Venezuela invades Columbia. When we respond to that, North Korea takes the opportunity to invade South Korea, and a non nuclear World War 3 starts.

Global Warming turns Russia back into a superpower, with all season ports, more arable land, and the ability to go after it's own resources, finally. China unlinks its currency from US and bases it on the Euro instead. US economy attempts to go into the toilet, but the constant wars keep it afloat, despite heavy inflation. Our newest major export is paramilitary defense contraction, a la Blackwater.

" Venezuela invades Columbia"

I am not all that sure Chavez will be able to wield that amount of control over the military if he continues on his present course.


Dissenting officers punished for views

CARACAS, Venezuela — Hundreds of Venezuelan military officers are without duties because of their objections to President Hugo Chavez's socialist ideology. Dissident Gen. Angel Vivas Perdomo said he aims to defend the military's apolitical tradition by asking the Supreme Court to deny Chavez's order for troops to salute with: "Fatherland, socialism or death — we will triumph." "It's a motto from Fidel in Cuba that, on top of being unconstitutional, is absolutely undemocratic," he said.

The main thing the next 50 years will see have evidence sprouting up right now. India has begun exporting jobs to China for cheaper labor. At some point in the next few decades salaries will equalize and location and country of origin will be irrelevant. A chemist in New Delhi or Trevose, PA or Perth or Dublin will all make a similar wage for similar skill and performance. There is no way the way the world operates today that can be sustained, and the power of governments have already proved there is nothing they can do to stop it.

I won't predict individual nations and their actions because that is nothing more than fiction, where we've already seen dramatic changes in the economic world.