The Soviet Union and the United States have been the world's two great powers since the Cold War, and the balance of power between them has been the focus of attention. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, this issue seems to have lost its relevance for discussion.
If the Soviet Union had not collapsed, would it have been able to defeat the United States now?
The territory and population of the USSR and the USA
Before the collapse of the USSR.
The Soviet Union, known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was founded on December 30, 1922, and consisted of 15 union republics. The disintegrated countries are Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan and Estonia.
Before its collapse, the Soviet Union was the largest country in the world in terms of territorial area, with a territorial area of about 22.4 million square kilometers. As for the population, the population of the USSR peaked in 1990 at about 290.1 billion. These figures reflect the sheer size and influence of the Soviet Union in its heyday.
United States. The United States, the full name of the United States of America, is a federal republican constitutional state composed of Washington, D.C., 50 states and many other overseas territories. The total area of the United States is about 9.37 million square kilometers, of which the land area is 91589.6 million square kilometers, with an inland water area of more than 200,000 square kilometers.
In addition, the U.S. sovereignty portion of the Great Lakes is about 170,000 square kilometers, and the coastal waters such as estuaries, harbors, and inland seas are about 100,000 square kilometers. As for the population, according to 2021 data, the population of the United States is about 33.3 billion.
We need to understand the gap in military power between the USSR and the USA
Military strength. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union's military power was always considered the most powerful in the world. Its nuclear reserves, army equipment, and air force are among the world's best. And although the United States has made great achievements in the field of science and technology, it is still slightly inferior to the Soviet Union in military strength. Therefore, in terms of military strength, the Soviet Union had a certain advantage at the peak of that year.
We need to take into account the economic strength of both sides
Economic strength. During the Cold War, the economic strength of the United States was among the best in the world, while the economic development of the Soviet Union lagged behind due to the restrictions of the planned economic system. However, as time passed, the economy of the Soviet Union gradually recovered, and the gap with the United States gradually narrowed. If the Soviet Union had not collapsed, its economic power would have been even stronger, which would have provided it with stronger support in military competition.
We also need to focus on the scientific and technological capabilities of both sides
Scientific and technological strength. The United States has been a world leader in science and technology, especially in the fields of information technology, biotechnology, and aerospace. And the Soviet Union, although it also achieved certain achievements in some areas, in general it still lagged behind the United States. However, if the Soviet Union had not collapsed, it would have had more resources to devote to scientific and technological research and development, which could allow it to gradually catch up with the United States in terms of scientific and technological power.
We also need to take into account the implications of the international political environment
International Politics. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States each led two opposing camps, which made the competition between them even more intense. And if the Soviet Union had not collapsed, it might have changed the international political landscape to a certain extent, which would have an important impact on the balance of power between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Summary
If the Soviet Union had not collapsed, its military, economic, and technological strength might have been much stronger. However, it is difficult to come up with a definitive answer to such hypothetical questions. After all, the development of history is determined by a combination of many complex factors, not just the balance of power of one country.