Theoretical

After thinking about the end of yesterday's post a bit, I decided it could use some clarification.

Essentially, the international power structure is in the shape of a pyramid. The US is at the top. Unquestionably superior economically and militarily to every other country in the world. Right below the U.S. are countries that are also especially powerful both economically and militarily, but not as much so as the U.S. I would unofficially place countries like England, Germany, and China in this group. The next level down are countries which are fairly powerful either militarily or economically, but not both. These would include countries such as Japan and South Korea. Yet another level down are countries countries that are not necessarily world powerhouses, but they are regional powers. For example, Iraq was a regional powerhouse in the middle east. I'd also call Australia a regional power in the south Pacific. This is the lowest level of the pyramid. One more step down you have all other countries who are not in political chaos. While those in political chaos are the weakest, this is always only a temporary phase and therefore, typically there aren't many countries in anarchy at any given point in time.

Every layer down the pyramid is less exclusive but, as a result, the countries are less powerful. During the Cold War, there was no tip to the pyramid. It topped out at a layer with 2 countries in it.