Talk:United Kingdom/Archive 14

message: An anonymous editor is continuously engaged in changing the opener to read that Britain was a superpower during the 19th century (and also that it is now one of "the eight" great powers - both claims unsourced).  I have changed the article to read how it used to, which was that Britain was the world's foremost power during this time.  I believe it was changed at some point because an editor suggested it was unsourced, so I have also provided a reference.  Hopefully "foremost power" negates the need for the contentious use of the term "superpower".  The Red Hat of Pat Ferrick t 11:44, 13 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: I would agree with that. The term superpower wasn't invented until the 1940s. And the UK didn't stay a superpower much beyond the end of WW2. But I think it's accurate to call the UK a Great Power during the time of its Empire. Just needs a source. But it is also often used to describe the UK today due to its combination of economic and military power alongside others including the US, France, Russia and China. Italy and Germany are most often discounted because while their economies are very powerful they don't have much military projection capability. --AJKGordon 15:50, 22 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: The new term "hyperpower" is now used when talking about the UK in a hisotorical sense, and when talking about the Unites States currently. Biofoundationsoflanguage 15:05, 28 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Sure, it has been used recently in this manner.  But it is by no stretch of the imagination a standard term.  (Has anyone except Ferguson used it to describe the British Empire?)  The Red Hat of Pat Ferrick t 14:38, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: I just did! Biofoundationsoflanguage 17:21, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

text: It seems to me Great power is a term looking for a definition. The term definitely had context in the pre WWI and to a lesser extent pre WWII worlds. Is Britain still a great power today? Do great powers still exist? (Other than of course the USA) The Wikipedia article on the subject, which is very poorly referenced, defines a great power as a nation or state that has the ability to exert its influence on a global scale. Does this really apply to Britain? The article does mention Britain as a global power, but does not reference it. I would suggest the use of this term in the article requires a significant contemporary reference. Otherwise it reads like a bit of patriotic puffery. --Michael Johnson 22:43, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

text: Wikipedia articles are not in themselves to be used as references for other Wikipedia articles. And the UK's presence on the Security Council dates from a time when indeed it was a foremost power. The question is would it get a permanent seat today? --Michael Johnson 23:17, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

text: Please sign your edits using four tildes, as instructed. "They are, that's fact" - no, it's POV. Russia has many more military personnel <I>and considerably more European territory</I>. "Many scholars have said it": before you use that claim to reinstate the claim on Wikipedia, you need to provide verifiable evidence in support of it. Viewfinder 23:49, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

text: It is not at all clear that the UK and France wield more international clout than Germany because of their permanent UN seats and nuclear weapons. I am sure you will have more to contribute to this discussion, but Wikipedia policy demands that you provide reliable sources in support of your claims. And please sign your posts using four tildes. Viewfinder 00:03, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

text: Further comment: the UK's nuclear, UN and G8 facts are all quite properly mentioned in the lead section. Whether or not they makes the UK a Great Power is a matter which we should leave readers to judge for themselves. We at Wikipedia are about verifiable fact, not the POV opinions of one, a minority or even a majority of editors. Viewfinder 00:16, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

text: The British Empire (although of course not the UK alone) was one of the entities designated as superpower when that term was invented in 1942. FWIW. laddiebuck 06:11, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

text: What the hell ofcorse Britain is a great power. We are part of the G8, UN security Council and are a nurclear power! We are great friends with the United States. 2nd highest expenture of miltary in the world. 2nd biggest navy. We share everything with the US. We have won every war in the 1900s and 2000s(unlike america on this one). And you are saying we aint a great power omg. And for a small island i tell u its pretty good!  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Cardiff123098 (talk • contribs) 19:02, 13 December 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Foremost power, great power, superpower 

message: This should be changed to third largest defence budget in the world, see wiki link on page  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.128.253.202 (talk) 20:36, 5 January 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Armed Forces 

message: Someone with editing privileges should put the Northern Ireland flag in the infobox under the 'Symbols' section where it lists the patron saints and national flowers of each UK country. Thanks, Anon.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.121.247.116 (talk) 23:25, 11 December 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: There is no official Northen Ireland flag. This issue has been hammered to death. If you aren't trolling then please take a look at the section above headed "Ulster Banner".Circusandmagicfan (talk) 10:54, 12 December 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  No Northern irish flag!