Superstate
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A superstate is an agglomeration of nations and/or states, often linguistically and ethnically diverse, under a single political-administrative structure. This is distinct from the concept of superpower, although these are frequently seen together. It is also distinct from the concept of empire, where one nation dominates other nations through military, political, and economic power, as in the Roman Empire, although an empire may also be a superstate, as in ancient Persia, India and China.
An example of a small superstate would be the republic of Yugoslavia before its breakup at the end of the cold war.
An example of an ancient superstate would be China, under various dynasties.
Eurosceptics argue that the European Union is a current example of an emerging superstate.
Constitutionally structured as federated republics, the United States of America and modern Germany may be considered superstates.
The former Soviet Union, though being constitutionally defined as federated republic, was de facto a superstate due to a major cultural and linguistical diversity between its inhabited ethnicities, never really identified themselves as the single Soviet nation despite the official doctrine.
The British Empire came close to becoming a superstate in the late 19th Century when there was an attempt to re-organise both Dominions and Colonies into a single body as an Imperial Federation.
[edit] Fictional superstates
- Atlantic Federation (Gundam anime metaseries)
- Earth Alliance
- Interstellar Alliance
- Eastasia (Nineteen Eighty-Four)
- Eurasia (Nineteen Eighty-Four)
- Fleet of Worlds
- Oceania (Nineteen Eighty-Four)
- Galactic Empire (Star Wars)
- Galactic Empire (Isaac Asimov universe)
- Megacity One
- Meccania
- Old Republic (Star Wars)
- United Federation of Planets
- Solarian League
- The World State
- Successor States
