Potential Superpowers

A potential superpower is a sovereign state that is speculated to be, or have the potential to become a superpower; characterized by the ability to exert influence and project power on an interstellar scale through economic, military, technological, political, or cultural means.

Nation	Arguments in Support	Arguments Against	Notes
Brazil Federative Republic of Brazil	Brazil is sometimes listed among the potential candidates for future superpower status. It controls a vast region of space with easy access to major translight routes and is largely self-sufficient across all critical strategic sectors. Its strong demographics and growing economy likewise provide a solid foundation for sustained influence. Brazilian-led military coalitions during the Bolivarian War and modern conflicts in the Elysian Fields have demonstrated Brazil’s leadership and proficiency in the fight against fascism, strengthening its role as a regional leader among liberal democracies. Brazil also possesses interstellar diplomatic reach and wields considerable cultural soft power through music, sports, film, fashion, and festivals. Portuguese, as one of the most widespread and spoken languages across the Orion Arm, further amplifies Brazil’s cultural influence.	Brazil’s commodity-based economy was built in the Post-Evacuation era on the expectation of an interstellar free trade arrangement that never materialized. It is vulnerable to price swings in sectors where profitability is already razor thin. Corruption, a persistent feature of Brazilian politics since the colonial era, remains deeply embedded within the nation’s complex and inefficient bureaucracy. Compared to the established superpowers, Brazil is less competitive in education, science, and technology, with innovation especially lagging. Meanwhile, an economic rivalry with India and sustained military confrontation with Argentina have constrained Brazil’s ambitions, anchoring its focus to the Local Supercluster rather than the wider Orion Arm.
France French Republic	France's modern prosperity is the result of strategic decisions made centuries earlier. An influx of African refugees in the 1940s, combined with well-executed and continuously refined citizenship and demographic policies, has produced one of the largest, most healthy, most dynamic, and politically engaged populations in the Orion Arm. Among liberal democracies, France’s economy ranks as one of the "big three," alongside the United States and the United Kingdom, and hosts a vast array of major interstellar financial centers. It commands a large territory and significant number of star systems, possesses abundant resources, and maintains an exceptionally diversified economy resilient to foreign trends. Long-standing relationships with post-African states provide France with military reach and cultural influence, with French now among the most widely spoken languages in the Orion Arm. Its favorable geographic position between two friendly major powers allows France to maintain relations with actors traditionally resistant to the liberal order while also asserting itself as a leading force within the O.T.O. Its interstellar influence continues to expand through colonial holdings, puppet states, satellite states, and protectorates extending deep into the Far Frontier.	France’s interstellar reach is divided between two major initiatives: the containment of the Axis Powers and the development of a new colonial empire in the Far Frontier. The latter project remains in its early stages and will not yield meaningful benefits for at least a generation, limiting France’s ability to project consolidated power. Internally, France faces growing polarization between far-left communists and far-right fascists, raising fears of potential civil unrest or even civil war. Internationally, although France maintains strong ties with many post-African states, its reputation remains mixed, particularly among organizations like the African Union, where lingering resentment from the nation's colonial era on Earth weakens its diplomatic influence. Meanwhile, military spending is frequently hampered by policy debates and economic bottlenecks, preventing the sustained investment necessary for superpower status.
Italy Italian Social Republic	Discussions of Italy’s potential superpower status are largely internal to the Pact of Rome and, to a lesser extent, the broader Axis Powers. In Italy itself, state media already refers to the nation in superpower terms. Most academics regard these claims as internal propaganda rather than serious geopolitical analysis. However, Italy does possess advantages that lend some credibility to the idea. Like several other great powers, it has benefited from demographic policies implemented centuries ago on Earth, linking universal income, education, and childcare to a system that makes children an economic benefit rather than a drain. As a result, Italy boasts one of the largest populations in the Orion Arm. It controls numerous planetary systems rich in raw resources and commands key translight lanes into the Local Supercluster, giving it both economic weight and strategic reach. Regional alliances such as the Pact of Rome further extend Italian influence and naval power. Italy also enjoys considerable cultural power, drawing on its ancient Roman legacy, modern leadership in fashion and design, and the interstellar reach of the Catholic Church.	Italy’s largely unsuccessful and often bloody colonial legacy on Earth continues to isolate it diplomatically, particularly among organizations like the African Union and many non-legacy nations. While Italy has attempted to model its economy on the more successful German system, these efforts have met with mixed results. Frequent instances of small-scale mismanagement in critical sectors often escalate into larger systemic problems, undermining economic stability and growth. Italy commands significant resources and a robust population, but these advantages are not always translated into effective power projection. Its primary regional alliance, the Pact of Rome, is widely seen as an artificial bloc, designed more to enhance Italian prestige than to serve any coherent strategic purpose. In practice, the Pact has struggled to demonstrate unity or influence beyond Italy’s immediate sphere. Moreover, Italy’s relationship with the broader Axis Powers underscores its junior status relative to Germany, reinforcing perceptions that it lacks the independence, interstellar reach, and institutional strength traditionally associated with true superpowers.
China Republic of China
India Republic of India	The Republic of India has received the most consistent coverage in the popular press concerning its potential as an interstellar superpower. In terms of the capabilities a superpower must fulfill, India is generally regarded as presenting the most promising all-round profile. It has a large population, high economic growth and dynamic industries, an expanding military, and exhibits increased activity in geopolitical affairs. Its immediate neighbors are largely friendly, while India is a prominent contributor within many international organizations. Through the Non-Aligned Movement, of which India is a founding member, it is also able to exert greater influence on the interstellar stage.	The Indian Arm remains geographically isolated from major translight lanes, nearly impossible for foreign powers to penetrate, but difficult to project power out from. Its strategic position, combined with several economic disasters, has created a legacy of insularism, from which India has only recently begun to emerge. Indian foreign policy has also largely been incoherent, shaped by shifting domestic priorities, inconsistent ideological commitments, and a cautious approach to external entanglements. It has no lasting treaties or alliances built on trust or friendship. The Non-Aligned Movement remains India’s largest geopolitical accomplishment, but due to its ideological nature, it cannot easily be wielded as an instrument of national power in the way the Comintern or OTO serve the interests of the Soviet Union and the United States respectively.
Centauri United Centauri Republic	The United Centauri Republic is widely regarded as a leading potential superpower. It is the single most developed and heavily populated planetary system in the Orion Arm, benefitting from its position at the critical intersection of interstellar trade in the Local Supercluster. Alpha Centauri controls key translight lanes and has created a robust financial empire anchored by interstellar trade, logistics, and the service economy clustered around them. It leads the SaTO regional alliance and maintains close ties to O.T.O.-aligned powers, while its navy ranks among the most capable in the Orion Arm.	Though the oldest "independent" colony in the Orion Arm, Alpha Centauri spent much of its history as a League of Nations protectorate and has struggled to redefine itself since gaining sovereignty. It is still widely perceived as a puppet of the O.T.O., a perception that has thus far blocked its ascension to the League of Nations Security Council and undermined its claims to true superpower status. Its wars on behalf of the superpowers during the Interstellar Dark Age, often against regional independence movements, further alienated natural trade partners, damaging even modern relationships. While Alpha Centauri’s concentrated development offers certain advantages, it lacks the expansive territorial depth of established superpowers, which often span dozens or even hundreds of systems. This structural limitation, unique among major powers, remains an unresolved vulnerability.
Great Britain United Kingdom	The United Kingdom possesses a wide range of advantages positioning it as a potential superpower. It controls critical translight routes in the Sea of Clouds and serves as a central node within the region’s integrated financial sector. British banks, insurers, and investment firms maintain significant influence across both emerging and established markets. Its armed forces are technologically advanced, with permanent facilities and forward-deployed units across the Orion Arm, supporting credible force projection. Politically, the United Kingdom benefits from stable governance, cultural prestige, and the widespread use of English as a diplomatic and commercial language. It maintains strong ties through the Commonwealth of Nations and is actively cultivating a hierarchy of Dominions, Protectorates, and Crown Territories in the Far Frontier, extending its influence through revived imperial frameworks.	Deep integration into the U.S.-led financial order provides stability and access to capital but leaves the British economy vulnerable to external shocks and foreign regulatory pressure. The British military, while technologically advanced, maintains a relatively small standing force optimized for expeditionary operations rather than sustained wars of attrition. Domestically, the country is experiencing a period of political stagnation, growing public discontent toward an increasingly unpopular monarchy. Wealth inequality remains a persistent issue, undermining social cohesion and fueling populist movements. While many relationships have been repaired, the United Kingdom’s imperial legacy continues to complicate diplomacy in key regions, where suspicion of neo-colonial influence persists. These factors collectively constrain its ability to act independently at scale, especially during prolonged crises.

Former Candidates

Nation	Arguments in Support	Arguments Against	Notes
United Solar Federation