hyperpower

A hyperpower is a state with a level of influence and capability so dominant that it significantly outclasses all other states, according to political scientist Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer. This dominance is characterized by a combination of military, economic, cultural, and diplomatic power that allows the hyperpower to exert its will globally. The term became particularly relevant in the post-Cold War era, with the United States being widely considered the sole hyperpower during that period.

The concept of a hyperpower suggests a unipolar international system where one state possesses the overwhelming capacity to shape global events. This power is not merely quantitative but qualitative, meaning the hyperpower's capabilities are fundamentally different from those of other nations. Such a state can project power across vast distances, influence international institutions, and maintain a significant technological and military advantage.

While the term is often associated with the United States in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the nature of international power dynamics is fluid. Some scholars debate whether the concept of a hyperpower is still applicable in a multipolar world, where other states are rising in influence. The existence and duration of a hyperpower era are subjects of ongoing discussion among international relations theorists.