Firstly- who are the current superpowers?
There is no clear and definite definition as to what makes a state or country a superpower, so opinions do vary. However the world's two main current superpowers are considered to be the U.S.A. and the E.U.
But it's not always been that way...
Until around 1920, the world was 'unipolar', with the British Empire being the only superpower; from 1940-90 the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union dominated during the Cold War, creating a 'bi-polar' world; and since 1990 the U.S.A. has been the worlds' most influential and dominant power, returning to a unipolar world. Throughout these times, those powers who may not have been considered the world's most dominant power still remained as very influential major powers. It is thought that the superpower geographies of the future will be much more fragmented and complex than those of the past.
So how did their power develop over time?
These three states rose to such levels of power because of the interplay between several factors- namely economic, political, cultural, military and demographic. Between roughly the 15th and 20th centuries, countries (mainly European in the earlier centuries of this period) would use their influence and dominance to colonise another, more vulnerable, country, to fulfil their own agendas (such as exploitation of raw materials and cheap trade). Even since the end of the main eras of colonisation, superpowers and major powers still exert their dominance over LEDCs and other more vulnerable or troublesome countries- recent examples include Syria, Tunisia, Afghanistan and Iraq. This is, in effect, a form of neo-colonialism. (Revision World, year unknown)
However, we must remember what it is that makes a state or country a superpower- its ability to influence other nations or states to adhere to its own interests. When the Soviet Union, the U.S.A. and the British Empire were considered to be the three main world superpowers, the world was often at war, so it is likely that these three states came to be known as superpowers because of how they influenced others using their military dominance. But military dominance also relies on economics and demographics- a nation must have both the money to build an army plus a population big enough to join it.
In more recent times, the dissolution of the Soviet Union led to Russia becoming simply a 'major power' as opposed to a superpower, yet the U.S.A. remained a superpower and the E.U. was going from strength to strength with more member states therefore a greater economy and demographic with which to influence others.
However, we must remember what it is that makes a state or country a superpower- its ability to influence other nations or states to adhere to its own interests. When the Soviet Union, the U.S.A. and the British Empire were considered to be the three main world superpowers, the world was often at war, so it is likely that these three states came to be known as superpowers because of how they influenced others using their military dominance. But military dominance also relies on economics and demographics- a nation must have both the money to build an army plus a population big enough to join it.
In more recent times, the dissolution of the Soviet Union led to Russia becoming simply a 'major power' as opposed to a superpower, yet the U.S.A. remained a superpower and the E.U. was going from strength to strength with more member states therefore a greater economy and demographic with which to influence others.