What was a superpower in 1991?

Answer 1

The same as it is in 2013.

Wikipedia says, "A superpower is a state with a dominant position in the international system which has the ability toinfluence events and its own interests and project power on a worldwide scale to protect those interests."

DictionaryDOTcom's definition is, "an extremely powerful nation, especially one capable of influencing international events and the acts and policies of less powerful nations. Power greater in scope or magnitude than that which is considered natural or has previously existed."

Merriam-Webster calls a superpower, "an extremely powerful nation; specifically : one of a very few dominant states in an era when the world is divided politically into these states and their satellites, or an international governing body able to enforce its will upon the most powerful states."

By these definitions, the following could be called superpowers:

• The United States
• Russia
• China
• India
• The United Nations
• England
• France
• Germany
• Switzerland
• The Vatican