By Pranav Sehgal

Opinions Editor

In today’s day and age it no longer seems as if the United States is the world’s only superpower. With developing countries like Brazil, India and China growing at rates faster than that of the United States, American dominance over international affairs is already on the wane.

Although the United States is regarded as the world’s leader in many respects, we do not carry the same status that we once had during the second half of the 20th century.

China’s economic ascendancy, in particular, has challenged the Unites States’ identity as a superpower. Economically, it seems as if China has America on a leash as they have loaned and continue to loan us billions of dollars.

If China were to call in their loans, the consequences would be devastating to the U.S. economy.

While the Chinese government plans to invest $586 billion dollars in infrastructure, investment of infrastructure in the United States remains minimal and a comprehensive plan to revamp our nation’s roads, railways, runways and other various transportation services is yet to be implemented.

Internationally, in an effort to compete for the world’s natural resources, China has extended its reach to Africa.

While our government is preoccupied with our wars overseas and all the costs involved, China’s leadership isn’t taking any chances, as it has become the most aggressive investor-nation in Africa in an effort to gain the vast natural resources that Africa offers.

The effects of China’s dominance can also be seen on university campuses throughout the United States, as Chinese students compete with Americans for spots in our nations educational institutions.

Many regard the Chinese educational system as more rigorous than that of the United States. They have fewer days off, high standards for their school systems and now the means to come abroad, all factors contributing to their great success in standardized testing and superior academic results that eventually lead to success in work force.

In order to combat challenges to American domestic and international influence, the United States government must reassert itself as a global economic power by not only investing in infrastructure, but also leading the way in other technological pursuits such as alternative energy resources.

The United States has always led through great economic changes: the Industrial Revolution, the dot-com era, and the real estate boom, and we must continue to do so.

As globalization has caused the world to be smaller, the United States must extend its partnerships overseas in order to be competitive with China in places like Africa because our consumer-based society needs resources in order to fuel our economy.

We must also invest heavily in education if the United States wants to continue to compete with students not only from China but from all over the world. If measures and policies are not implemented to fight these challenges, America will no longer be the superpower that everyone perceives it to be.

If we don’t continue to advance with them, we will fall like all great empires that have ceased to be, countries like China will fill the void.