Britannia. She once had an empire which was the envy of the world, with the greatest navy ever seen to the world and the greatest wealth the Earth had ever known, stretching from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) to India and the British Raj.
But, the question that I consider, whether her empire still exists, is quite obvious. No. Technically the sun never sets on the British empire as a result of the continued ownership of Gibraltar, the Falklands, South Georgia, British Antarctic territory, Bermuda and the list goes on, too many to mention in fact.
However, the question I intend to discuss is whether the tiny group of Islands known as the British Isles still has any influence in the world.
I personally believe that, yes, the British still have influence in the world, as a member of the powerful European Union, a permanent member of the United Nations and therefore the power to veto decisions made in these organisations. Also the UK is on course to be the largest economy in the E.U by 2022, overtaking both Germany and France as a result of their low economic output over the last 7 years.
However, Britain is losing ground to fast developing nations like the BRIC members (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and was overtaken by Brazil in 2011, although the UK is in the middle of overtaking it again.
Just wondering, but does no one else find it slightly terrifying that the country soon to have the largest economy is a dictatorship?! This is the first time in around 400 years that a democracy will not have the largest economy in the world and I'm finding this slightly terrifying. Please feel free to express your feelings below in the comment box.
So, will the UK be a simple dot on the globe within, say, 70 years? Well? No. The UK spent over $57.9 Billion in the year 2014, the 6th largest military expenditure on earth*, just lagging behind France.
Also, the UK is a permanent member of the UN and a leading figure in the European union, giving it major powers in the worlds most rich confederation of nations, the EU.
If you have any thoughts on the subject of Britain's power in the world then please leave a comment below.
*according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
TGD
But, the question that I consider, whether her empire still exists, is quite obvious. No. Technically the sun never sets on the British empire as a result of the continued ownership of Gibraltar, the Falklands, South Georgia, British Antarctic territory, Bermuda and the list goes on, too many to mention in fact.
However, the question I intend to discuss is whether the tiny group of Islands known as the British Isles still has any influence in the world.
I personally believe that, yes, the British still have influence in the world, as a member of the powerful European Union, a permanent member of the United Nations and therefore the power to veto decisions made in these organisations. Also the UK is on course to be the largest economy in the E.U by 2022, overtaking both Germany and France as a result of their low economic output over the last 7 years.
However, Britain is losing ground to fast developing nations like the BRIC members (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and was overtaken by Brazil in 2011, although the UK is in the middle of overtaking it again.
Just wondering, but does no one else find it slightly terrifying that the country soon to have the largest economy is a dictatorship?! This is the first time in around 400 years that a democracy will not have the largest economy in the world and I'm finding this slightly terrifying. Please feel free to express your feelings below in the comment box.
So, will the UK be a simple dot on the globe within, say, 70 years? Well? No. The UK spent over $57.9 Billion in the year 2014, the 6th largest military expenditure on earth*, just lagging behind France.
Also, the UK is a permanent member of the UN and a leading figure in the European union, giving it major powers in the worlds most rich confederation of nations, the EU.
If you have any thoughts on the subject of Britain's power in the world then please leave a comment below.
*according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
TGD
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