A true 'super power' in the modern sense is not the strength of its hard military power but its soft power. The USA influences the world through technology and culture on a level that China will never be able to match without major internal changes. The fact that it still chooses to push its smaller neighbours around is an example of this.
I'm not sure the term "superpower" is well defined enough to argue over who is and isn't one, but I do take issue with the idea that the USSR was influential only via its military. Many, if not most, revolutionary movements for quite a while were Marxist in nature. This resulted in the fall and creation of many governments on all 6 populated continents. I think the projection of a particular ideology counts as a form of soft power.
Comments
Short answer. No.
A true 'super power' in the modern sense is not the strength of its hard military power but its soft power. The USA influences the world through technology and culture on a level that China will never be able to match without major internal changes. The fact that it still chooses to push its smaller neighbours around is an example of this.
I disagree. The USSR was called a superpower, but they never did achieve it via 'soft power' as you say... it was mainly through their military.
China's current power in the world comes primarily though its economic might.
I'm not sure the term "superpower" is well defined enough to argue over who is and isn't one, but I do take issue with the idea that the USSR was influential only via its military. Many, if not most, revolutionary movements for quite a while were Marxist in nature. This resulted in the fall and creation of many governments on all 6 populated continents. I think the projection of a particular ideology counts as a form of soft power.