What Is the Most Important Aspect of National Power?

[Al Khalifah]

Its a cycle:

-> Strong Economy leads to better Military.
|
| Military leads to stronger diplomatic clout and landmass.
|
| Increased landmass leads to greater population size and more natural resources.
|
|- Greater population size and natural resources lead to a stronger economy.

That's the theory, but other things can always go wrong which ruin the whole plan. Strong regional neighbours can curb the growth of even the most powerful nations. Germany was very strong in the 20th Century but was effectively surrounded by Great Britain, France and Russia. America grew to be very strong because it had very little regional competition. Conquering land doesn't always guarentee more population or natural resources either. It could just be desolate wasteland.

The other factors mentioned are normally effects rather than causes of a nation's power. Population abilities are normally a spin off a stronger economy and can create a minature feedback loop. Civil rights are a spin off of the form of government. The form of government tends to have a bearing on the balance between the build up of economic and military strength. A nation that empowers more of its populace in governance is likely to be weaker militarily than one that keeps tight central control, but is more likely to be able to support a strong economy through the free market.

[Byzantine Prince]

I have to go with population abilities. You can have the worst, most deserted country in the world but with skilled people anything is possible. That is real power. Population size, and even economy size doesn't count for nothing. Germany before WW2 didn't have a bigger economy then the USSR. And earlier then that it wasn't even better. But Germany had very skilled people. Scientists and engineers! The world needs more of them!

[King Edward]

Aircraft carriers..

[BDC]

The economy. Money buys guns, friends and people.

[ah_dut]

The economy. Money buys guns, friends and people.

right on the money my friend

[doc_bean]

Money is the basis of all power.

[Papewaio]

The economy. Money buys guns, friends and people.

But what makes a stronger economy... better trained people in a more free society?

[kiwitt]

Germany was defeated by the Economic Strength of the US, even though it's technology and military were superior. The US backed other countries, Britain, Australia, Russia, with loans (money) which helped.

[Papewaio]

Germany was defeated by the Economic Strength of the US, even though it's technology and military were superior. The US backed other countries, Britain, Australia, Russia, with loans (money) which helped.

What made the US have a strong economy?

Lots of natural resources, skilled labour,
a more equal society
=bigger workforce per head of population
=more in alignment (more time working then striking) vs burning shops down of 'lesser' races. By alignment I think of how magnets in iron when aligned create a stronger magnetic field. When society is aligned they work together better, when infighting you have examples like the Crystal night and Israel/Palestine.

[mercian billman]

I have to go with population abilities. You can have the worst, most deserted country in the world but with skilled people anything is possible. That is real power. Population size, and even economy size doesn't count for nothing. Germany before WW2 didn't have a bigger economy then the USSR. And earlier then that it wasn't even better. But Germany had very skilled people. Scientists and engineers! The world needs more of them!

I have to agree with BP except I should add that the USSR eventually did defeat Germany, and population size and economy did count for something in that.

I'm torn between the strength of a nations economy and the abilities of it's population. In the end I have to go with a populations abilities because it determines the strength (and type) of economy a nation will have.

[sharrukin]

A strong work ethic, mental attitude and self confidence will in the long term mean the most for a nation. It's how most of the great powers became what they are and why others did not.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Economy, with military in a close second. With nuclear weapons and globalization the economy of a country has more clout than anything else except the military during full-scale war.

[Franconicus]

Nations were important in the 19th century. They got perverted in the 20th. Today they are not important (maybe for Americans, but that is all). If you are looking for an important aspect of society - that is the happiness of the people.