Final answer:
Post-World War II, the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics emerged as superpowers, while Britain was weakened and China was not yet a superpower.
Step-by-step explanation:
Following World War II, there were two countries that emerged as superpowers: the United States (USA) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). These two nations stood relatively unscathed in terms of infrastructure and economic strength, especially the USA, whose territory remained intact and whose economy was booming. On the other hand, the USSR, despite suffering massive wartime losses, still managed to consolidate power, particularly through its expanded influence in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia.
In contrast, Britain, despite being an Allied victor, was significantly weakened by the war and could no longer maintain its pre-war position of global dominance. China, which had been embroiled in its own struggles and was not a superpower at this time, would later become influential under a communist government. These shifting dynamics set the stage for the Cold War, an era defined by ideological conflict and competition for global influence between the capitalist West led by the USA and the communist bloc led by the USSR.