Emerging power An emerging power is a term used by academics as recognition of the rising , primarily economic , influence of a nation - or union of nations - which has steadily increased their presence in global affairs . Such a power aspires to have a more powerful position or role in international relations , either regionally or globally , and possess sufficient resources and development that such goals are potentially achievable . Characteristics . There is no standard or agreed method to decide which states are emerging powers . However a fundamental characteristic of an emerging power is that it is also an emerging economy , being that economic development is necessary and preliminary to political and military emergence . It has been argued that while a country may be an emerging power , it is above anything else an emerging economy with only the potential or hope of increasing their global influence . This is because of several limiting factors , largely the seven dimensions of state power ; geography , population , economy , resources , military , diplomacy and national identity . Traditionally , only great power s or superpowers have succeeded in all seven dimensions of state power . The BRICS are often cited as being emerging powers , but at varying stages of development and of varying degrees of potential . For example Russia , which was once a superpower , is now re - emerging in some aspects of state power following the fall of the Soviet Union . China and India are emerging as potential superpowers , while Brazil and South Africa are emerging as possible great powers of the future . List of emerging powers . Although there is no exact delineation of membership , the term is often used to include the following countries and supranational union as emerging superpowers : Although there is no exact delineation of membership , the term is often used to include the following countries as emerging powers : Potential great powers . China and Russia are already considered great power s due to their military and strategic importance , their status as recognised nuclear powers and their permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council , however they are also seen as continuing to increase their global influence and thus regarded as emerging powers . With continuing European integration , the European Union is increasingly being seen as a great power in its own right , with representation at the WTO and at G8 and G - 20 summits . This is most notable in areas where the European Union has exclusive competence ( i . e . economic affairs ) . It also reflects a non - traditional conception of Europe ' s world role as a global " civilian power " , exercising collective influence in the functional spheres of trade and diplomacy , as an alternative to military dominance . The European Union is a supranational union and not a sovereign state , and has limited scope in the areas of foreign affairs and defense policy . These remain largely with the member states of the European Union , which include the three great powers of France , Germany and the United Kingdom ( referred to as the " EU three " ) . India is widely regarded as an emerging power and some academics , such as the political scientist Dr . Zbigniew Brzezinski , regard it as having now achieved great power status , and therefore like China and Russia is increasing its global influence . Permanent membership of the UN Security Council is widely regarded as being a central tenet of great power status in the modern world ; Brazil , Germany , India and Japan form the G4 nations which support one another ( and have varying degrees of support from the existing permanent members ) in becoming permanent members . There are however few signs that reform of the Security Council will happen in the near future . Potential superpowers . Additionally , China , the European Union and India are widely speculated by academics to have the potential of becoming superpowers sometime during the 21st century . Other powers . Mexico , Indonesia , South Korea and Turkey are known as the MIKT countries . They are all currently middle and regional powers with rapidly developing ( and already sizeable ) economies . Saudi Arabia is regarded as an energy superpower and now has the world ' s 7th highest military expenditure .