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Aregional power is asovereign state that exercises significantpower ininternational relations within itsgeographical region.[1][2] States that wield unrivaled power and influence within a region of the world possessregional hegemony. The term 'regional power' has been used since the late 20th century.
Regional powers shape thepolarity of a regional area. Typically, regional powers have capabilities which are important in the region, but do not have capabilities at a global scale. Slightly contrasting definitions differ as to what makes a regional power. TheEuropean Consortium for Political Research defines a regional power as 'a state belonging to a geographically defined region, dominating this region ineconomic andmilitary terms, able to exercisehegemonic influence in the region and considerable influence on the world scale, willing to make use of powerresources and recognized or even accepted as the regional leader by its neighbors.'[1]
The German Institute of Global and Area Studies states that a regional power must:[2]
In this list are states that have been described as regional powers by international relations andpolitical scienceacademics, analysts, or other experts. These states, to some extent, meet the criteria for regional power status, as described above. Different experts have differing views on exactly which states are regional powers. States are arranged by their region, and in alphabetical order.
Even though theeconomic weight ofAfrica is relatively low compared to other continents, and more than two-thirds of African countries are among theleast developed states in the world, Africa's rich natural resources and diverse cultures could carry the potential to enable future development.
Although South Africa was diplomatically isolated during the latter years of theapartheid era, it is considered to have successfully reintegrated into international affairs over the last 20 years. It is recognized as the onlynewly industrialized country in Africa and takes a crucial role inBRICS andG20.
South Africa – a member of the G20, BRICS, andCIVETS[3][4][5]Historically,Imperial China was thedominant power inEast Asia. From the late 19th century, theEmpire of Japan initiatedfar-reaching Westernizing reforms, and rapidlyindustrialized, to become a major power inAsia by the time ofWorld War I, as one of theAllied powers. With economic turmoil, Japan's expulsion from the League of Nations, and its interest in expansion on the mainland, Japan became one of the three mainAxis powers inWorld War II.[citation needed]
Since the late 20th century, regional alliances, economic progress, and contrasting military power changed the strategic and regional power balance in Asia. In recent years, a re-balancing of military and economic power amongemerging powers, such asChina andIndia, has resulted in significant changes in the geopolitics of Asia. China andJapan have also gained greater influence over regions beyond Asia. In recent decades,South Korea has emerged as a significant economic andcultural power in East Asia. Japan and South Korea areimportant allies for the United States in theIndo-Pacific region.
China– apermanent member of theUN Security Council (P5); a member of theG20,BRICS, andShanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO); and considered asuperpower[6][7][8][9]
Japan – a member of theG7, G20,OECD, andQUAD; one of theG4 nations; and considered a great power[10]
South Korea – a member of the G20,MIKTA, and OECD[11]
India – a member of the G20, BRICS, SCO, and QUAD; one of the G4 nations; and considered a great power[3][13][14][15][16]
Israel – a member of the OECD[17]
Saudi Arabia – a member of the G20 and OPEC[18]
Turkey – a member of the G20, OECD, MIKTA, CIVETS, and D-8[19][20][21]Russia – thedominant part of a former superpower, theSoviet Union, is now considered a great power, and has historically been the primary geopolitical force inEastern Europe.France,Germany,Italy, and theUnited Kingdom, collectively known asBig Four in Western Europe, as they play pivotal roles as part of theNATO Quint in the security of theWestern Bloc. Most of the continent is now integrated as a consequence of the enlargement of the European Union, which is sometimes considered a great power as a whole, despite it not being a sovereign state.[22][23] Historically, dominant powers in Europe created colonial empires (such as theBelgian,British,Danish,Dutch,French,German,Italian,Portuguese,Russian, andSpanish Empires).
Russia – apermanent member of theUN Security Council (P5); a member of theG20,BRICS, andShanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO); and considered agreat power[a]
Germany – a member of theG7, G20, andOECD; one of theG4 nations; and considered a great power[a]
Poland – a member of the OECD; and considered amiddle power[25][26][27]
France– a permanent member of the UN Security Council (P5); a member of the G7, G20, and OECD; and considered a great power.[28]
United Kingdom – a permanent member of the UN Security Council (P5); a member of the G7, G20, OECD, andAUKUS; and considered a great power.[28][29][30]
Italy – a member of the G7, G20, and OECD; and considered agreat power[31]The United States is the primary geopolitical force inNorth America, and is widely considered as the sole contemporarysuperpower globally. It dominates the region so heavily that its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, bothmiddle powers in the region, are generally not considered regional powers. Despite having a large enough economy to be a member of theG7,Canada is not a regional power for two reasons. It is militarily secure as a result of U.S. hegemony, and has become financially comfortable by its dependence on, and deep integration with, a robust U.S. economy.[32]Mexico is an emerging power which could probably be viewed as a regional power if grouped withLatin America, or a definite regional power if considered in eitherMiddle America or inHispanic America due to itseconomic size anddiverse cultural heritages.[33] However, similar to Canada, Mexican economy is highly reliant on the U.S. with about 80% of its exports shipping to the U.S. alone.[34][35]
United States – apermanent member of theUN Security Council (P5); a member of the G7,G20,OECD,QUAD, andAUKUS; and considered asuperpowerAustralia is considered to be a regional power due to its significant commercial and diplomatic relations inAsia–Pacific region since the late 1990s.[36]
Since theAge of Discovery, Portugal and Spain mostly dividedSouth America to be the foremost colonial powers in the continent, but followingdecolonization in the first half of the 19th century, the European powers withdrew and new nations were established, although their cultural influence and languages still remain predominant in Latin America.
Brazil is considered one of the most compelling geopolitical power in South America, as the country has the highest population and landmass in the continent, andits economic size, which possesses large stockpiles of natural resources, includingvaluable minerals, a tenth of the world's fresh water and it's also one of the countries that contain theEarth's largest remaining rainforest. Brazil has an important role in international relations, especially in economic and global environmental issues.[38]
Mexico's per capita GDP is relatively high by global standards, and falls within the World Bank's upper-middle income category. Mexico's economy relies heavily on the United States as an export market. The value of exports equaled 39% of Mexico's GDP in 2019, as shown in Table 1, and approximately 80% of Mexico's exports were headed to the United States.
